is this surpant star one of the killer ones?(with pics)

i read and looked at different pics but couldnt figure it out. my LFS told me it wasnt one that would kill fish. meanwhile i wake up and my scooter blenny's tail is sticking out of the rock. i dont know if he died and then the star took him in the rock or the star killed him but if anyone knew if what i had was known to kill fish that would be a good indication haha.

 

hmm no pics? I think its the green ones you need to watch out for.

 

Any of the large brittle/serpent stars can take down fish.

 

I have the same. he is pretty big and hasnt messed with anything in my tank so far

 

Most likely scenario is, your blenny may have died and the star saw a free meal. They are scavengers. We have 2 serpent stars and 1 brittle star. The serpents are about 5 or 6 inches in diameter, and the brittle star I would estimate at 12-14 inches in diameter. We have never had a fish die or go missing because of them. They are scavengers, and will take a free meal when they can, but I doubt they could ever attack a fish and kill it.

The only scenario I've heard of about brittle/serpant stars "killing" a fish are the "green serpent stars" (whatever those are) eating sleeping fish. Again, I have 4 fish that sleep within or under the rockwork, and none of my stars have ever done anything to any of them.

Most fish, even a scooter blenny, are faster and stronger than a serpent/brittle star. Unless the blenny was sleeping, stupid, or already gone, the serpent star probably didn't do anything to harm it.

 

thanks for the input guys

 

I have been using serpent stars for almost 16 years now as my only clean-up crew. No hermits or snails.
I put 3 to each tank other than my seahorse tanks, and I've never had a problem other than a few serpents that have died over the years.
I'm short one at the moment but we haven't been getting any in our area now for over a year.

 

ALL stars are predators, some move faster than others or are more agressive but all will eat a fish if the opportunity presents itself. I shy away from any stars in my reef systems with the exception of the mini brittle stars that live in the sand and all the nooks and crannies.

 

I've never found any documentation to support that statement and would be pleased if you can provide such a link, especially related to serpent stars.

 

Here is one good article with links and references to many others.
Reefs.org: Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet - Sea Stars By Ron Shimek Aquarium.Net July 1997

Here is another:
Echinoderms in Aquaria... by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

And another one:
Starfish: Considerations for the Common (and Commonly Misunderstood) Varieties by Anthony Calfo - Reefkeeping.com

While serpent stars are not as agressive as others they are stil meat eaters and predators, just a little slow.