clownfish disappearing, serpentstar the killer

flying_dutchman · 08/09/2009, 12:26 PM

A week ago one of my clownfish disappeared

, didn't understand why parameters within normal range, thought it might jumped out but couldn't find remains.
This morning other clownfish gone

, belly of serpent star full, you can see a bump

NEVER PUT A SERPENTSTAR IN YOUR REEF IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR FISH!!!!!
I had to learn it the hard way

flying_dutchman · 08/09/2009, 12:43 PM

Diadado · 08/09/2009, 01:18 PM

Lovely :-( My husband bought 2 serpent stars a week ago and we have 2 small clownfish. Luckily they don't swim through the rocks and stay at the top half of the tank.

flying_dutchman · 08/09/2009, 01:34 PM

Mine swam at the top too, but they slept at the bottom, so at night...
my serpent was 1,5'' in diameter thought 7'' with the arms, but they grow pretty quick.
Good luck.

Diadado · 08/09/2009, 02:38 PM

Ours are about that size. I'll see if my husband can find them to feed them tonight when he feeds the one-armed coral banded (who snaps even more at fish when he's hungry). With all the rock it's hard to find them, and even more so with the lights on. My husband wanted to get a blenny today but I'm afraid it will get eaten so we didn't - we just got more snails (and that was before seeing your post). I'll see if I can post a pic of him in my gallery - haven't read how to do it in a post yet.

romsoccer12 · 08/09/2009, 03:21 PM

purple serpent stars wont rly eat fish unless they are sick dieing. mine in my 29gal has had many oppurtunities to eat fish but doesnt. a crab attacked my clown and he was near death and thats when my serpent star finished him off. i doubt that your serpent star ate a healthy clown

DetectiveTofu · 08/09/2009, 04:04 PM

Normally it is the green serpent stars ("the green death") that are problematic with fish. Not to say other colored serpent stars won't prey on other fish in our aquaria given the opportunity -and just like as mentioned above this post, if a fish is dying, or extremely weak ... well then ...

badwrasse · 08/09/2009, 04:34 PM

most won't eat fish unless the fish is already dead green purple or not

dont blame the star unless you witnessed it

he deservs the right to a fair trial

reefconcepts · 08/09/2009, 07:47 PM

Green serpent stars!! It's an animal!! All animals will do different things. I have has a several reef tank since 1986, some did and some did not have green serpent stars.
I have found out the hard way in my current reef they are night fishermen! The fish do not have to be sick or even up to par but if the serpent star is hungry, sushi!! Believe what ya want that's my 2¢ and I am sticking to it!

Ken_wied · 08/09/2009, 07:50 PM

My serpent gets fed a whole krill every 3 days to try to curb that problem. I have had it for over a year with no issues.

Diadado · 08/09/2009, 08:26 PM

I fed one of ours krill tonight but I couldn't find the other one to feed it. Haven't seen it in days. I put a piece down where it was last seen. We have a ton of rock so it's hard to see.

EverettReef · 08/09/2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by badwrasse
he deservs the right to a fair trial

By a jury of his/her peers? Man, that would take another 12 serpentstars.

kikireef · 08/09/2009, 08:56 PM

My serpant star ate my elegance coral. After a $60 dollar meal down the drain he was taken back to the lfs. I would recommend you do the same.

badwrasse · 08/09/2009, 08:58 PM

never had any problems with them, I dont have one now but have in the past, had one for 2 years and never had a missing fish

kikireef · 08/09/2009, 11:42 PM

Here is the pic of it eating my elegance...

DetectiveTofu · 08/10/2009, 12:00 AM

Wow

loosecannon · 08/10/2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flying_dutchman
A week ago one of my clownfish disappeared , didn't understand why parameters within normal range, thought it might jumped out but couldn't find remains.
This morning other clownfish gone , belly of serpent star full, you can see a bump
NEVER PUT A SERPENTSTAR IN YOUR REEF IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR FISH!!!!!
I had to learn it the hard way

Ophiarachna incrassata = green death ! If it was this guy in your tank git him out. Other S. stars just eat dead things .

Toddrtrex · 08/10/2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefconcepts
Green serpent stars!! It's an animal!! All animals will do different things. I have has a several reef tank since 1986, some did and some did not have green serpent stars.
I have found out the hard way in my current reef they are night fishermen! The fish do not have to be sick or even up to par but if the serpent star is hungry, sushi!! Believe what ya want that's my 2¢ and I am sticking to it!

The green ones that are known to eat fish (( has happened to me )) are commonly referred to as brittle stars, not serpents. I have never had any issues with a serpent star eating a healthy fish, whereas I have with brittles.

08/09/2009, 12:26 PM	#1
flying_dutchman Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,319	clownfish disappearing, serpentstar the killer A week ago one of my clownfish disappeared , didn't understand why parameters within normal range, thought it might jumped out but couldn't find remains. This morning other clownfish gone , belly of serpent star full, you can see a bump NEVER PUT A SERPENTSTAR IN YOUR REEF IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR FISH!!!!! I had to learn it the hard way

08/09/2009, 03:21 PM	#6
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	purple serpent stars wont rly eat fish unless they are sick dieing. mine in my 29gal has had many oppurtunities to eat fish but doesnt. a crab attacked my clown and he was near death and thats when my serpent star finished him off. i doubt that your serpent star ate a healthy clown __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

08/09/2009, 04:34 PM	#8
badwrasse Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. louis Posts: 1,203	most won't eat fish unless the fish is already dead green purple or not dont blame the star unless you witnessed it he deservs the right to a fair trial __________________ GOT CRABS? Current Tank Info: 90gal RR,rock wall in progress, MRC sump, reef octopus XP2000I skimmer, marineland pro lighting 2-150w MH 4-54w T5's, hydor wavemaker with 2 #4 controllable pumps, and QuietOne 4000HH return pump.

08/09/2009, 07:50 PM	#10
Ken_wied Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 311	My serpent gets fed a whole krill every 3 days to try to curb that problem. I have had it for over a year with no issues. __________________ Ken 90gal RR 1-Yellow Tang, Blue Hippo and Kole 1-Watchman Goby 1-True Perc Clown w/Sebae Anem Host 3-Small Chromis Numerous SPS and Soft Corals Crocea Clam Sea Apple CoCo Worm 2 Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Peps Reef Octo DNW 150 Recirc Skimmer Odyssea Dual 250w MH with 96w CP Actinic 1.025 / 78.8 / pH 8.2 / Rates 0.0 / Rites 0.0 / Ammonia 0.0 dKH 8.0 / Calc 450 / Mg 1350

08/09/2009, 08:56 PM	#13
kikireef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chino at The Preserve Posts: 1,107	My serpant star ate my elegance coral. After a $60 dollar meal down the drain he was taken back to the lfs. I would recommend you do the same. __________________ Keith SCMAS Member Tank Info: 120 gallon 48"x30"x20" Leemar Rimless. 2 MP40w, 1 MP10w, SROsss Skimmer, ATI Sunpower 8x54w, Neptune Apex Controller with WXM module. 2 BRS dosing pumps. Check my homepage for the build...

08/09/2009, 12:43 PM	#2
flying_dutchman Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,319

08/09/2009, 01:18 PM	#3
Diadado Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 164	Lovely :-( My husband bought 2 serpent stars a week ago and we have 2 small clownfish. Luckily they don't swim through the rocks and stay at the top half of the tank.

08/09/2009, 01:34 PM	#4
flying_dutchman Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,319	Mine swam at the top too, but they slept at the bottom, so at night... my serpent was 1,5'' in diameter thought 7'' with the arms, but they grow pretty quick. Good luck.

08/09/2009, 02:38 PM	#5
Diadado Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 164	Ours are about that size. I'll see if my husband can find them to feed them tonight when he feeds the one-armed coral banded (who snaps even more at fish when he's hungry). With all the rock it's hard to find them, and even more so with the lights on. My husband wanted to get a blenny today but I'm afraid it will get eaten so we didn't - we just got more snails (and that was before seeing your post). I'll see if I can post a pic of him in my gallery - haven't read how to do it in a post yet.

08/09/2009, 04:04 PM	#7
DetectiveTofu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,150	Normally it is the green serpent stars ("the green death") that are problematic with fish. Not to say other colored serpent stars won't prey on other fish in our aquaria given the opportunity -and just like as mentioned above this post, if a fish is dying, or extremely weak ... well then ...

08/09/2009, 07:47 PM	#9
reefconcepts Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Reidsville, NC Posts: 91	Green serpent stars!! It's an animal!! All animals will do different things. I have has a several reef tank since 1986, some did and some did not have green serpent stars. I have found out the hard way in my current reef they are night fishermen! The fish do not have to be sick or even up to par but if the serpent star is hungry, sushi!! Believe what ya want that's my 2¢ and I am sticking to it!

08/09/2009, 08:26 PM	#11
Diadado Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 164	I fed one of ours krill tonight but I couldn't find the other one to feed it. Haven't seen it in days. I put a piece down where it was last seen. We have a ton of rock so it's hard to see.

08/09/2009, 08:58 PM	#14
badwrasse Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. louis Posts: 1,203	never had any problems with them, I dont have one now but have in the past, had one for 2 years and never had a missing fish __________________ GOT CRABS? Current Tank Info: 90gal RR,rock wall in progress, MRC sump, reef octopus XP2000I skimmer, marineland pro lighting 2-150w MH 4-54w T5's, hydor wavemaker with 2 #4 controllable pumps, and QuietOne 4000HH return pump.

08/09/2009, 11:42 PM	#15
kikireef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chino at The Preserve Posts: 1,107	Here is the pic of it eating my elegance... __________________ Keith SCMAS Member Tank Info: 120 gallon 48"x30"x20" Leemar Rimless. 2 MP40w, 1 MP10w, SROsss Skimmer, ATI Sunpower 8x54w, Neptune Apex Controller with WXM module. 2 BRS dosing pumps. Check my homepage for the build...

08/10/2009, 12:00 AM	#16
DetectiveTofu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,150	Wow