Brittle or serpent star? What's the diff?

Gluestick · 09/08/2006, 10:40 AM

I want a star for my aqaurium, mainly for the sandbed to eat detirius. Which star is better? What's the difference between the two??? Is one more reef safe than another?

Raibaru · 09/08/2006, 10:52 AM

I'm going with the serpent for no other reason then I like the way they look more then the brittle star. I hear they hide a lot so doubt I will see either anyway.

As for your questions, wish I could answer them so I'll just sit back and wait for the pro's to respond since I'd like to know too

itz frank · 09/08/2006, 11:19 AM

for detrius consumption i'd go with the sand sifting star because serpents and bristle stars pretty much just hide in the live rock. so there's not a whole lot they'll do for the sand bed.

Gluestick · 09/08/2006, 11:25 AM

Although I don't know much about the stars, I'll have to disagree on the sand sifting star. They don't eat detirius, they eat all the live critters in the sand bed.

bertoni · 09/08/2006, 11:54 AM

Brittle star and serpent star are two names for the same group of animals. Which star are you considering?

Gluestick · 09/08/2006, 11:59 AM

http://sealifeflorida.com/catalog/pr...roducts_id=121
Something like this. It's a Harlequin serpent star.

bertoni · 09/08/2006, 02:56 PM

They tend to be safe to have, but sometimes they might go after a fish. That's more likely with the green serpent stars, though.

imtheonlylp · 09/08/2006, 03:00 PM

i have one of each....i NEVER see the brittle star, in fact i thought he was a goner at one time...then i spotlighted him one night after lights out and he's doing fine...the serpent however is awesome to watch...he can apparently detect feeding time because he comes out of hiding and "walks" all around the tank...it did get into a tangle with my pencil urchin one time - the urchin wouldnt let go until a few good whacks with my scraper...so the serpent star should consider me its life saver

Gluestick · 09/08/2006, 03:28 PM

Wow, that's quite a story! You're a hero!

Fountainhead · 09/08/2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by imtheonlylp
...it did get into a tangle with my pencil urchin one time - the urchin wouldnt let go until a few good whacks with my scraper...so the serpent star should consider me its life saver

Mine got into a tangle once with a huge hitchiker gorilla crab. This is what he got for his trouble:

Fortunately, he looked like this a couple of weeks later:

Gluestick · 09/09/2006, 06:39 AM

WOW! Did you ever manage to get the crab out? What the heck is a gorilla crab?
Great pics, the closeups make the star look almost alien-like. Wild!

imtheonlylp · 09/09/2006, 07:54 AM

those are great pics...i took one of mine the other day:

Gluestick · 09/09/2006, 09:26 AM

Wow, he's really cool!

dc · 09/09/2006, 09:37 AM

Well here's my Brittle star with an $18 lunch.

Fountainhead · 09/09/2006, 07:13 PM

DC - What the heck did he eat? Who knew they could hold that much. That's nuts.

Gluestick - Yeah, I got him out eventually. Took quite awhile. Here's the slashing varmit. He was about the size of a 50 cent piece.

Gluestick · 09/10/2006, 10:40 AM

OMG!!! Is that a TUMOR!!!?? Lol, seriously, what did he eat?!?!
Fountain - That is a nasty looking critter. Wouldn't want to come across that guy!

Laakmann · 09/10/2006, 10:55 AM

I bought some LR from a local reefer for my tank, well turns out he had a large red serpent star hiding in a peice of LR. It ate 2 neon gobies, a tiger watchman goby, blue damsel (i didnt mind that one), and finally a 2.5in Coral Beauty Angel. I spent in hour with my hand in the tank with a piece of shrimp in it to get him out of the rocks and grab him.

dc · 09/10/2006, 11:23 AM

He ate a cleaner shrimp. I had just fed the tank, turned around and I saw just the tail end of the shrimp disappearing. I scooped him out and put him in the sump. That's where the shrimp turned sideways and it looked like a watermelon, I couldn't get a good picture after that.

landragon · 09/10/2006, 11:34 AM

Yes, as alluded to earlier, sand sifting stars are bad news in all but the biggest tanks. They are hunting. Not "sifting" for poop. They hunt and eat the things that do eat poop though. If you want effective carrion and detritus eaters, stock with nassarius snails, about 1 per 2-3 gallons. These puppies will sift your sand incredibly, and eat poop/leftovers.

IMO a harlequin serpent is the prettiest and safest of the bunch. Pricier though. Mine has never been an issue, and is generally reclusive. Green brittle, aka Green Death, are best kept alone.

09/08/2006, 10:40 AM	#1
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	Brittle or serpent star? What's the diff? I want a star for my aqaurium, mainly for the sandbed to eat detirius. Which star is better? What's the difference between the two??? Is one more reef safe than another? __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/08/2006, 11:25 AM	#4
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	Although I don't know much about the stars, I'll have to disagree on the sand sifting star. They don't eat detirius, they eat all the live critters in the sand bed. __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/08/2006, 11:54 AM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Brittle star and serpent star are two names for the same group of animals. Which star are you considering? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/08/2006, 11:59 AM	#6
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	http://sealifeflorida.com/catalog/pr...roducts_id=121 Something like this. It's a Harlequin serpent star. __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/08/2006, 02:56 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	They tend to be safe to have, but sometimes they might go after a fish. That's more likely with the green serpent stars, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/08/2006, 10:52 AM	#2
Raibaru Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 979	I'm going with the serpent for no other reason then I like the way they look more then the brittle star. I hear they hide a lot so doubt I will see either anyway. As for your questions, wish I could answer them so I'll just sit back and wait for the pro's to respond since I'd like to know too

09/08/2006, 11:19 AM	#3
itz frank Gives Bad Advice. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,168	for detrius consumption i'd go with the sand sifting star because serpents and bristle stars pretty much just hide in the live rock. so there's not a whole lot they'll do for the sand bed.

09/08/2006, 03:00 PM	#8
imtheonlylp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 465	i have one of each....i NEVER see the brittle star, in fact i thought he was a goner at one time...then i spotlighted him one night after lights out and he's doing fine...the serpent however is awesome to watch...he can apparently detect feeding time because he comes out of hiding and "walks" all around the tank...it did get into a tangle with my pencil urchin one time - the urchin wouldnt let go until a few good whacks with my scraper...so the serpent star should consider me its life saver __________________ "Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man" - Jimmy Lyons Current Tank Info: 75g glass, 20g sump/refugium, QueenTS200, CA2300 return pump, (2) AquaClear4000 powerheads

09/08/2006, 03:28 PM	#9
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	Wow, that's quite a story! You're a hero! __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/09/2006, 06:39 AM	#11
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	WOW! Did you ever manage to get the crab out? What the heck is a gorilla crab? Great pics, the closeups make the star look almost alien-like. Wild! __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/09/2006, 07:54 AM	#12
imtheonlylp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 465	those are great pics...i took one of mine the other day: __________________ "Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man" - Jimmy Lyons Current Tank Info: 75g glass, 20g sump/refugium, QueenTS200, CA2300 return pump, (2) AquaClear4000 powerheads

09/09/2006, 09:26 AM	#13
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	Wow, he's really cool! __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/09/2006, 09:37 AM	#14
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	Well here's my Brittle star with an $18 lunch. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/09/2006, 07:13 PM	#15
Fountainhead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 566	DC - What the heck did he eat? Who knew they could hold that much. That's nuts. Gluestick - Yeah, I got him out eventually. Took quite awhile. Here's the slashing varmit. He was about the size of a 50 cent piece.

09/10/2006, 10:40 AM	#16
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	OMG!!! Is that a TUMOR!!!?? Lol, seriously, what did he eat?!?! Fountain - That is a nasty looking critter. Wouldn't want to come across that guy! __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

09/10/2006, 10:55 AM	#17
Laakmann Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 332	I bought some LR from a local reefer for my tank, well turns out he had a large red serpent star hiding in a peice of LR. It ate 2 neon gobies, a tiger watchman goby, blue damsel (i didnt mind that one), and finally a 2.5in Coral Beauty Angel. I spent in hour with my hand in the tank with a piece of shrimp in it to get him out of the rocks and grab him. __________________ 90 gallon BB SPS cube Current Tank Info: 90 reef, 125 single oscar tank, 55 QT

09/10/2006, 11:23 AM	#18
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	He ate a cleaner shrimp. I had just fed the tank, turned around and I saw just the tail end of the shrimp disappearing. I scooped him out and put him in the sump. That's where the shrimp turned sideways and it looked like a watermelon, I couldn't get a good picture after that. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/10/2006, 11:34 AM	#19
landragon Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 892	Yes, as alluded to earlier, sand sifting stars are bad news in all but the biggest tanks. They are hunting. Not "sifting" for poop. They hunt and eat the things that do eat poop though. If you want effective carrion and detritus eaters, stock with nassarius snails, about 1 per 2-3 gallons. These puppies will sift your sand incredibly, and eat poop/leftovers. IMO a harlequin serpent is the prettiest and safest of the bunch. Pricier though. Mine has never been an issue, and is generally reclusive. Green brittle, aka Green Death, are best kept alone. __________________ "Experience is the only tool we aren't born with." Unknown