Missing fish... Serpent Star the culprit?

creditgirl · 11/07/2006, 07:27 PM

Any one have a green serpent star? If so, have you noticed missing fish in your tank?

greenbean36191 · 11/07/2006, 08:14 PM

I don't have one myself, but yes, green serpent stars are known fish eaters. It's well documented in the hobby as well as the scientific literature.

triggerman888 · 11/07/2006, 08:27 PM

YES!! I have the same problem. I'm not sure if my star is a green serpent or a brittle but i had a cute little clown goby disappear a couple weeks after i added the star to my tank.

creditgirl · 11/07/2006, 10:12 PM

I knew they ate any fish that may die, because my clown was sick last week and died and no more than 2 seconds later, the star grabbed it, hugged it like a big snake, and ate it.

Now one of my damsels is missing. It was there this morning before work and not there when we got home.

650-IS350 · 11/07/2006, 11:56 PM

They are nick named GREEN DEATH for a good reason

kass03 · 11/08/2006, 03:02 AM

Yes they can but if your clown was sick and died so might have been your damsel.

I'd be checking your water pars and watching fish for illness also.

kass

kau_cinta_ku · 11/08/2006, 07:54 AM

i agree a healthy fish should be able to avoid getting caught. I also had the green brittle star and took him out due to the fact of what i heard about them but they never got a hold of any of my fish for the year i had him

Amador · 11/08/2006, 08:27 AM

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm

Quote:

One species in common use warrants a statutory warning. This is the Green Brittle Star of the genus Ophiarachna. This animal is a predatory fish eater, that does indeed do a spiffy janitorial job when small... but grows quickly, and under darkness of night can/does learn to eat aquarium fishes. This species has been documented to arch up in "sleeping caves" of captive fishes and drop down on unsuspecting meals. If you use this species, keep an eye on it, and a count on your piscine livestock.

BORNTOFLY · 11/08/2006, 09:05 AM

When I had mine in my nano tank I lost 3 shrimp to him. At 30 bucks a pop I stopped buying him meals. I would say in larger tanks this would not be as much of an issue.

Rick

creditgirl · 11/08/2006, 05:05 PM

Well that little @#&*% is going back to the LFS, hopefully they will take him. They told me it was a peaceful starfish.

11/07/2006, 07:27 PM	#1
creditgirl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Missing fish... Serpent Star the culprit? Any one have a green serpent star? If so, have you noticed missing fish in your tank?

11/07/2006, 08:14 PM	#2
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	I don't have one myself, but yes, green serpent stars are known fish eaters. It's well documented in the hobby as well as the scientific literature. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

11/07/2006, 11:56 PM	#5
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	They are nick named GREEN DEATH for a good reason __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

11/07/2006, 08:27 PM	#3
triggerman888 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 74	YES!! I have the same problem. I'm not sure if my star is a green serpent or a brittle but i had a cute little clown goby disappear a couple weeks after i added the star to my tank.

11/07/2006, 10:12 PM	#4
creditgirl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	I knew they ate any fish that may die, because my clown was sick last week and died and no more than 2 seconds later, the star grabbed it, hugged it like a big snake, and ate it. Now one of my damsels is missing. It was there this morning before work and not there when we got home.

11/08/2006, 03:02 AM	#6
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	Yes they can but if your clown was sick and died so might have been your damsel. I'd be checking your water pars and watching fish for illness also. kass

11/08/2006, 07:54 AM	#7
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	i agree a healthy fish should be able to avoid getting caught. I also had the green brittle star and took him out due to the fact of what i heard about them but they never got a hold of any of my fish for the year i had him

11/08/2006, 09:05 AM	#9
BORNTOFLY Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 112	When I had mine in my nano tank I lost 3 shrimp to him. At 30 bucks a pop I stopped buying him meals. I would say in larger tanks this would not be as much of an issue. Rick

11/08/2006, 05:05 PM	#10
creditgirl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	Well that little @#&*% is going back to the LFS, hopefully they will take him. They told me it was a peaceful starfish.