I missed a somehat similar shot a couple of weeks ago, but this time I grabbed my camera. The pictures show Ophioderma squamosissimus (red serpent star) in what appears to me to be a loving embrace. The embrace is short lived but this may be normal. Most of the time the star stay well seperated in the 160-gallon cylinder tank. So far I haven't observed any offspring.
Doing the Wild Thing, Red serpent style?
- Thread starter dizzy
- Start date
I'm running Mozilla 1.2.1, and they worked for me (FWIW).
Nice shots!
How long have you had those stars? Any problems with them eating unwanted things? Those are very nice looking animals. I think it would be something incredible if they did end up reproducing! That may be a first for captivity (certainly for the hobbiest).
Right about here is where I'd make a joke about needing to scrape the glass and get your Macro lens out, but I don't want to offend the Male starfish...
- Mac
Nice shots!
How long have you had those stars? Any problems with them eating unwanted things? Those are very nice looking animals. I think it would be something incredible if they did end up reproducing! That may be a first for captivity (certainly for the hobbiest).
Right about here is where I'd make a joke about needing to scrape the glass and get your Macro lens out, but I don't want to offend the Male starfish...
- Mac
Mac,
I think one of the stars has been in the tank for around three years and the other about two, but I didn't write them down. They certainly don't bother the fish or corals in the tank. My flame hawks ate all the shrimps a long time ago. The tank is 38" deep so the bottom gets neglected. It was a snooze you lose opportunity. As soon as I snapped the photos the stars seperated.
I think one of the stars has been in the tank for around three years and the other about two, but I didn't write them down. They certainly don't bother the fish or corals in the tank. My flame hawks ate all the shrimps a long time ago. The tank is 38" deep so the bottom gets neglected. It was a snooze you lose opportunity. As soon as I snapped the photos the stars seperated.
Dizzy,
I'm hoping for the same action in my 65 gallon tank. I've had a large red serpent (about 20" across) for about 7 years, and about 6 months ago added a smaller red serpent (about 8" across) that I've had for about 5 years (but was in another tank).
I get the impression they're sexually dimorphic (since I've had the smaller one for 5 years, and it hasn't shown much growth). Are yours different sizes?
Kevin
I'm hoping for the same action in my 65 gallon tank. I've had a large red serpent (about 20" across) for about 7 years, and about 6 months ago added a smaller red serpent (about 8" across) that I've had for about 5 years (but was in another tank).
I get the impression they're sexually dimorphic (since I've had the smaller one for 5 years, and it hasn't shown much growth). Are yours different sizes?
Kevin
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Kevin,
The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium Volume IX by Fossa & Nilsen says: "Possibly ovoviviparous; however, no details available."
The two I have are approximately the same size. They spend most of the day back in the live rock and it is impossible to tell one from the other. I would estimate their length at 18"-20" tip to tip. I've never gotten close enough to tell if mine are sexually dimorphic. :wink: I am however keeping my eyes peeled for little red specks in the tank.
Mitch
PS Photo added, can you tell which one the dude is?
The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium Volume IX by Fossa & Nilsen says: "Possibly ovoviviparous; however, no details available."
The two I have are approximately the same size. They spend most of the day back in the live rock and it is impossible to tell one from the other. I would estimate their length at 18"-20" tip to tip. I've never gotten close enough to tell if mine are sexually dimorphic. :wink: I am however keeping my eyes peeled for little red specks in the tank.
Mitch
PS Photo added, can you tell which one the dude is?
Attachments
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