can bigger serpent stars kill fish?

DMK · 02/01/2006, 03:21 PM

i have 2 serpents, 1 green/black and i big purple/brown. both in there for almost 3 years. i have seen the big 1 snatch silver sides from my open brain no proble, and try to get from my RBTA. i also saw him pull in a dead cherub angel before i could get it. now my smaller maroon clown is gone. he was only like 1.25". the bigger serpent is about 10" across, and no it's not a brittle star. can these serpents, at this size, snatch smaller fish?

TrojanScott · 02/01/2006, 04:04 PM

Heck yes they can. I had a green serpent that ate two mandarins before I figured out it was him. (saw remains stuck on the top of him.) If a small fish is "sleeping" or really docile at night, you better believe one of those guys can nab it.

Serpent stars are awesome, and fun to watch move around when you feed, but damn do they grow fast. Haven't had one since then.

MIKE NY · 02/01/2006, 04:08 PM

I have two for over five years and although they aren't as aggressive as green brittles they will eat almost anything they can get if hungry enough. Try target feeding it at least once a week.

DMK · 02/01/2006, 04:38 PM

i always thought they didn't eat fish. are u guys sure that they will snatch up live fish? if so, they're gone, at least the big 1.

Lev F. · 02/01/2006, 05:13 PM

The Green ones are the ones that tend to eat fish. The other ones may, but to a lesser extent.

DMK · 02/01/2006, 07:29 PM

so these friggers can actually grab a live fish, curl it up and eat it??? i know they'll eat dead stuff.

unsane · 02/01/2006, 08:12 PM

Have you seen the octo snatch the swimming shark up? I think a brittle could do it just as easy its just on a smaller scale.

dc1718 · 02/01/2006, 08:19 PM

Do the eat turbos and hermits too? My tank is littered with empty shells

MIKE NY · 02/01/2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Do the eat turbos and hermits too? My tank is littered with empty shells

Quote:

they will eat almost anything they can get if hungry enough

Zoos · 02/01/2006, 08:47 PM

They are opportunistic feeders and will catch what they can, (especially the green stars)

Quote:

Do the eat turbos and hermits too? My tank is littered with empty shells

hermits kill snails to take their shells, that might explain your shell commentary

dc1718 · 02/01/2006, 08:49 PM

but there are no hermits living in the shells and I have all Scarlets which are supposed to be gentle.

corals b 4 bills · 02/02/2006, 12:46 AM

I did'nt know the ocean was gentle.

DMK · 02/02/2006, 08:35 AM

my greeen/white stripe 1 is the smaller, and definately more laid back. the brownish purple beast is definately more aggressive. as soon as lights are out, he's out looking for whatever. i wonder if he snatched my stressed tiny male maroon clown which was hanging near bottom, since female was harassing him. he's the biggest serpent i've seen, about 10" across, w/ a head or whatever it is, about the size of dollar coin. i'm now considering taking out. they always snatch up whatever i feed tank. i never thought they would snatch up, hold on to, and eat a fish. how could they eat a fish anyway... physically?

02/01/2006, 03:21 PM	#1
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	can bigger serpent stars kill fish? i have 2 serpents, 1 green/black and i big purple/brown. both in there for almost 3 years. i have seen the big 1 snatch silver sides from my open brain no proble, and try to get from my RBTA. i also saw him pull in a dead cherub angel before i could get it. now my smaller maroon clown is gone. he was only like 1.25". the bigger serpent is about 10" across, and no it's not a brittle star. can these serpents, at this size, snatch smaller fish?

02/01/2006, 04:08 PM	#3
MIKE NY Two Decade club Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Franklin Square, N.Y. Posts: 4,381	I have two for over five years and although they aren't as aggressive as green brittles they will eat almost anything they can get if hungry enough. Try target feeding it at least once a week. __________________ Proud LIRA Member February 2011 Manhattan Reefs TOTM Current Tank Info: 170 gal Reef, 20 gal frag/reef,90 gal fuge, 65 gal sump, 2-250 Radiums on Hamilton M80 HQIs, T5 actincs, Vertex in280 skimmer, MRC-2 Cal Reactor, Reeflo return pump

02/01/2006, 05:13 PM	#5
Lev F. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,109	The Green ones are the ones that tend to eat fish. The other ones may, but to a lesser extent. __________________ - Lev "It all starts with a small freshwater aquarium. Then it turns into miniature estuaries on the carpet, and an afterwards fragrance that has the power to kill anything that's ever lived" Current Tank Info: 65 Gallon Mixed Reef Tankh. 96 Watt COralife Aqualight PCS, 20 Gallon Refugium with A. Nummifer frogfish, 40 Gallon Octopus tank

02/02/2006, 12:46 AM	#12
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	I did'nt know the ocean was gentle. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

02/01/2006, 04:04 PM	#2
TrojanScott Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,229	Heck yes they can. I had a green serpent that ate two mandarins before I figured out it was him. (saw remains stuck on the top of him.) If a small fish is "sleeping" or really docile at night, you better believe one of those guys can nab it. Serpent stars are awesome, and fun to watch move around when you feed, but damn do they grow fast. Haven't had one since then.

02/01/2006, 04:38 PM	#4
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	i always thought they didn't eat fish. are u guys sure that they will snatch up live fish? if so, they're gone, at least the big 1.

02/01/2006, 07:29 PM	#6
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	so these friggers can actually grab a live fish, curl it up and eat it??? i know they'll eat dead stuff.

02/01/2006, 08:12 PM	#7
unsane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 217	Have you seen the octo snatch the swimming shark up? I think a brittle could do it just as easy its just on a smaller scale.

02/01/2006, 08:19 PM	#8
dc1718 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 294	Do the eat turbos and hermits too? My tank is littered with empty shells

02/01/2006, 08:49 PM	#11
dc1718 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 294	but there are no hermits living in the shells and I have all Scarlets which are supposed to be gentle.

02/02/2006, 08:35 AM	#13
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	my greeen/white stripe 1 is the smaller, and definately more laid back. the brownish purple beast is definately more aggressive. as soon as lights are out, he's out looking for whatever. i wonder if he snatched my stressed tiny male maroon clown which was hanging near bottom, since female was harassing him. he's the biggest serpent i've seen, about 10" across, w/ a head or whatever it is, about the size of dollar coin. i'm now considering taking out. they always snatch up whatever i feed tank. i never thought they would snatch up, hold on to, and eat a fish. how could they eat a fish anyway... physically?