Brittle and Serpant Stars Gen Concensous

[don1234]

Just got a new Toad Stool coral it came with two baby stars which are both pale tan in color fleshy looking. I think they are serpent or brittle stars. What is the general concensous on reef safety....
Mushrooms
Kenya tree
Candy canes
Torches
star polyps
zoos
button polyps
hermit crabs
snails
tangs
mandarin
banded shrimp
emerald crab

 

[mr_x]

this tiny stars you got as hitch hikers will not get large like the ones you see for sale. those little guys are beneficial and harmless to your reef.

 

[don1234]

okay thanks....Mr X if you are still here let me ask you another questions since I see you respond to a lot of other questions and I know you are quite kowledgeable......Will a toad stool survive a fresh water dip....I was thinking about dipping it even before putting it into my qt tank

 

[mr_x]

i've dipped corals in freshwater before with no ill effects. i've never kept leathers, and i only dipped corals briefly (30 seconds) in fresh water.
even though i had no troubles with it, i believe an iodine dip is much safer, due to a recent discussion i had with another SWF member.
why did you want to freshwater dip it?

 

[don1234]

I purchased it from a LFS that I had Once purchased a small zoo colony that had nudibranches on it. The toadstool looks healthy but I just don't want to take any chances.

 

[mr_x]

i'd give it 15 minutes in iodine.

 

[fau8]

what is the concerntration for an iodine dip.

 

[mr_x]

i am not sure of that either. i pay alittle extra and use lugols, or seachem reef dip.