Stars and Clowns and Anemones, Oh My.

I've always heard the green serpent stars are NOT reef safe. I have a
brown brittle star that has been absolutely fine with my anemones. He
is at least 10 inches across. I've had him for at least 6 months. He
tends to hide most of the time and comes out at feeding times. After
Chip made a play for the anemones he moved on to try to eat the brown
star. Its interesting watching the brittle star "run" around the tank.

I did a quick search for the match to my brown brittle before the
previous post and couldn't find any reference to anything other than
the green serpent star. That is why I posted I was going to head for
the LFS and get a serpent star. When I make the trip Friday I'm going
to try for another brown brittle star. At one time I had about 100
little baby stars crawling in and out of all the cracks in the rocks.
They were awesome to watch. Then I brought home a Green Emperor Goby
and 3 Yellow Tangs. The stars quickly disappeared. I still find a few
hiding in my Fluval canister at cleaning times.

BTW - I would post more scientific names if I new them. I really need
to figure out all I have and keep track of it so I can accurately
describe any issues when they arise.

Wayne Sallee wrote:
There is a green star fish that is often called a brittle
star, and sometimes called a serpent star. It's nature is
like half way between the two. In some ways it's not as
bad as a serpent star, but it is not as good as a brittle
star.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



George wrote on 12/21/2006 5:18 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
news
Get a brittle, not a serpent.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Brittle stars will eat anemones as well. At least my green one does,
especially if they aren't doing too well.

George

This has been my experience as well. We have two brown/black brittles that
have traversed a couple tank changes with us, and now reside in our 180g
reef. I last measured the largest one about 2 years ago, and it was about
15" from the tip of one leg to the tip of the opposite - no exaggeration.

We've had them both for +/- 7 years, and they have never displayed any
aggression to any tank make, fish, or mobile/sessile invert. Of course, they
do get a chunk of raw seafood from time to time. :-)

Olive green brittles do have a reputation for being somewhat more
aggressive. Note that the term "brittle" and "serpent" star is
interchangeable -- they are all 'Ophiroids". Here is a very good site that
describes these creatures well:

http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid/html/what.html

Chocolate chip starfish (Protoreaster nodosus) are not considered reef
safe - in that they are opportunistic carnivores - they will eat most
anything that can't escape them, including corals,sponges (and probably
anenomes).

~T
http://home.comcast.net/~76fxe


wrote in message
ups.com...

I've always heard the green serpent stars are NOT reef safe. I have a
brown brittle star that has been absolutely fine with my anemones. He
is at least 10 inches across. I've had him for at least 6 months. He
tends to hide most of the time and comes out at feeding times. After
Chip made a play for the anemones he moved on to try to eat the brown
star. Its interesting watching the brittle star "run" around the tank.

I did a quick search for the match to my brown brittle before the
previous post and couldn't find any reference to anything other than
the green serpent star. That is why I posted I was going to head for
the LFS and get a serpent star. When I make the trip Friday I'm going
to try for another brown brittle star. At one time I had about 100
little baby stars crawling in and out of all the cracks in the rocks.
They were awesome to watch. Then I brought home a Green Emperor Goby
and 3 Yellow Tangs. The stars quickly disappeared. I still find a few
hiding in my Fluval canister at cleaning times.

BTW - I would post more scientific names if I new them. I really need
to figure out all I have and keep track of it so I can accurately
describe any issues when they arise.

Wayne Sallee wrote:
There is a green star fish that is often called a brittle
star, and sometimes called a serpent star. It's nature is
like half way between the two. In some ways it's not as
bad as a serpent star, but it is not as good as a brittle
star.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



George wrote on 12/21/2006 5:18 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
news Get a brittle, not a serpent.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Brittle stars will eat anemones as well. At least my green one does,
especially if they aren't doing too well.

George