Serpent Star

topfeeder · 12/15/2008, 06:09 PM

Can serpent star beat up or kill a fish in a reef tank?

sassafrass · 12/15/2008, 06:28 PM

It wouldn't beat one up , but if not fed it may try to eat one and they have been known to succeed!

topfeeder · 12/15/2008, 07:54 PM

I have, had 8 Chromis and now two are dead! Just a few parts of the tail fin missing and one looked beat up, just wondering if the star did it. They were in the reef for about 8 months with no problem, now 2 in a week dead. No parts of the body missing just the fins. They swam funny for a day then..............................

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/15/2008, 07:58 PM

It could be the case that they are beating eachother up. I would not expect a starfish to do that, the only time I've seen them aggressive towards fish, it was an all-or-nothing thing - they'd catch and eat the fish, not "beat it up" over time.

biecacka · 12/15/2008, 08:28 PM

yeah chromis have been known to beat each other up

E.intheC · 12/15/2008, 08:57 PM

..also, to make a distinction, it's the GREEN brittle stars that stalk and jump on/eat small fish. I've had black brittle stars and they're great. completely fish safe.

Go for the black brittle stars.

sassafrass · 12/15/2008, 10:38 PM

Chromis will continur to kill the weakest one until there is only one left in my experience. I started with 7 in a 150 three years ago and now there is 1

gsxr750 · 12/16/2008, 02:08 AM

I have one in my 150g and no problems here. It did get a hold of one of my Nassarius snail when i was feeding but he didn't eat him.

reefdat · 12/16/2008, 08:32 AM

Thanks to all. It is a green serpent star.

Reverend Reefer · 12/16/2008, 09:15 AM

i have a purple looking one with black stripes on it. it spends most of its time hanging out with my yellow watchman goby. they seem to be friends!

reefdat · 12/16/2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefdat
Thanks to all. It is a green serpent star.

That should have been; It is a green serpent star?

12/15/2008, 06:09 PM	#1
topfeeder Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: mayberry Posts: 86	Serpent Star Can serpent star beat up or kill a fish in a reef tank?

12/15/2008, 07:58 PM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	It could be the case that they are beating eachother up. I would not expect a starfish to do that, the only time I've seen them aggressive towards fish, it was an all-or-nothing thing - they'd catch and eat the fish, not "beat it up" over time. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

12/15/2008, 08:57 PM	#6
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	..also, to make a distinction, it's the GREEN brittle stars that stalk and jump on/eat small fish. I've had black brittle stars and they're great. completely fish safe. Go for the black brittle stars. __________________ -Eric

12/16/2008, 09:15 AM	#10
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	i have a purple looking one with black stripes on it. it spends most of its time hanging out with my yellow watchman goby. they seem to be friends! __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

12/15/2008, 06:28 PM	#2
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	It wouldn't beat one up , but if not fed it may try to eat one and they have been known to succeed!

12/15/2008, 07:54 PM	#3
topfeeder Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: mayberry Posts: 86	I have, had 8 Chromis and now two are dead! Just a few parts of the tail fin missing and one looked beat up, just wondering if the star did it. They were in the reef for about 8 months with no problem, now 2 in a week dead. No parts of the body missing just the fins. They swam funny for a day then..............................

12/15/2008, 08:28 PM	#5
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	yeah chromis have been known to beat each other up

12/15/2008, 10:38 PM	#7
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	Chromis will continur to kill the weakest one until there is only one left in my experience. I started with 7 in a 150 three years ago and now there is 1

12/16/2008, 02:08 AM	#8
gsxr750 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: sunnyvale Posts: 248	I have one in my 150g and no problems here. It did get a hold of one of my Nassarius snail when i was feeding but he didn't eat him.

12/16/2008, 08:32 AM	#9
reefdat Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: La Posts: 56	Thanks to all. It is a green serpent star.