Starfish or not?

[big]

OK all, the tank seems to be doing well.

Should I add a Starfish???
Is there one worth adding that is completely Reef safe with good color that will not be knocking over things or eating my small critters? I have read all the SWF.com's listings but can't decide. :thinking: I know acclimation is a major issue to be careful with and any other good pointers will be appreciated too! Thanks all...Warren

 

[reefkprz]

the banded serpent star would make a nice addtion, an attractive and a non-aggressive detritivore, helps with tank maintinence consumes fish waste and excess foods, spends most of its time hiding but can often be seen reaching out from under rocks to grab tidbits of food.
I reccomend drip acclimating the star for at least 2 hours as poor acclimation can take up to a month to show by the critter starting to fall apart or its limbs disentigrating. no spot feeding is nescessary for this star unless you have a very low fish/feeding load/regimen.
I feed pretty heavy so mine eats well.

definatly one of my favorites though I have been looking at the red serpent as well.
I almost forgot to ask if the tank is fully cycled and what your parameters are. To house starfish I reccomend Sg1.025 and waiting untill your tank is fully cycled.

 

[tk]

For what it's worth, last night my serpent starfish killed and was ready to feast on my prized flame angel. I have a serpent and a brittle... I think that they may go in the toilet after a short trial!
tk

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by tk
For what it's worth, last night my serpent starfish killed and was ready to feast on my prized flame angel. I have a serpent and a brittle... I think that they may go in the toilet after a short trial!
tk

It is very common to blame them for this but what is your proof (this is not to flame you or anything, BTW, just an honest question)? How old was the angel? How long did you have it? How old is the tank? What are your water parameters? What and how often do you feed the brittlestars? What color was the brittlestar? The green is a KNOWN PREDATOR (meaning, it shouldn't be in your tank and shouldn't be punished for following instincts). Others are not known to be, but they will scavenge and dead or dying fish. IMO it would take a very large brittlestar to take out a healthy flame angel but anything is possible...just it is far more tempting for us to believe the fish is healthy and was killed, than it died for other reasons. Typically brittlestars are caught with the evidence (which is what we put them in to do) but it does not mean they are the killers.
I keep 10 brittlestars (serpentstars are the same thing). I can not outrightly blame them for any losses...3 are large greens, and many of the others are large too.
As for the original post, please provide specifics of your tank, and what you hope to do. A seastar is NOT a rush purchase as you can make a big mistake if not researched thoroughly.

 

[sebae09]

im with ophuria on this one, your fault. you should have done your research on the green brittle before adding it. i also doubt that the starfish killed the fish he was probobbly just cleaning up the corpse but there is no way to tell, i personally have about 5 green brittles in a reef tank and they have been in there for about 1.5 years they never have touched a fish. i spot feed them twice a week tho. they all are probbly 8-12in

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by tk
For what it's worth, last night my serpent starfish killed and was ready to feast on my prized flame angel. I have a serpent and a brittle... I think that they may go in the toilet after a short trial!
tk
you wouldnt actually flush a live animal would you?
thats pretty appalling.
I definatly deffer to Oph in her knowledge of stars.