sand shifter and brittle starfish

[jjkim]

hey mr members,
i wanted to know if sand shifter and serpent sea starfish eats
hermit crabs and snails like nassarius snails.
i had about 20 hermits with a lot of extra bigger shells but they decreased to 12
and i had 30 nassarius snails but i barely see them.
the most i saw was 5.

so do these two starfish i have eat my crabs and snails?
thanks

 

[SanmanReefer]

hey mr members,
i wanted to know if sand shifter and brittle starfish eats
hermit crabs and snails like nassarius snails.
i had about 20 hermits with a lot of extra bigger shells but they decreased to 12
and i had 30 nassarius snails but i barely see them.
the most i saw was 5.

so do these two starfish i have eat my crabs and snails?
thanks

They definitely can and will eat them if they are hungry. I had a brittle star that ate my yellow goby once. It pounced on him late at night. Hope that helps.

 

[jjkim]

Oh so its the brittle starfish and not the shifting star?
Do you think the brittle might eat my dragoneh and scooter blenny?

 

[NYreefNoob]

sand sifting star fish wont eat either or, and never heard of a searpent star fish eating them either. most of the time if you get something that eats something out of it's normal realm it is because it was sick or dying, , easy way to find nass snails is when ya feed tank you will see them come out of sand, also how long has the tank been up and did you drip acclimate them

 

[jjkim]

Oh and my mistake its not brittle starfish its the serpant seastar one
And i had the tank running for 4 months now but i used live rock and water from my old 45 gallon when i upgraded

 

[NYreefNoob]

still makes no differance, they are carnivors, but any healthy fish or invert should not be eaten by them, rare cases maybe, but healthy have the ability to get away

 

[jjkim]

Thanks for the info i was going to give them away but not anymore

 

[SanmanReefer]

still makes no differance, they are carnivors, but any healthy fish or invert should not be eaten by them, rare cases maybe, but healthy have the ability to get away

You would think so, a few years ago one of my large brittle stars pounced on a small yellow watchman goby at night. I was looking at the tank with a red light looking for worms and watched the entire thing. I was shocked.

 

[jjkim]

How big was urs? Because i read on other websites that when they get big they will eat hermits and fish

 

[SanmanReefer]

How big was urs? Because i read on other websites that when they get big they will eat hermits and fish

Mine was huge, scary looking also. Longer than a foot across. I'm sure she ate a few of my hermits and snails as well.

 

[jjkim]

Thats huge mine is only about like 7 inches well as long as it doesnt eat my dragoneth and other fish then im fine with him eating some hermits i guess

 

[Gabe]

They aren't really carnivores, it's more like scavengers.

 

[SanmanReefer]

Yeah you should be fine, like I said I've only seen that once in one of my large tanks. I got rid of her though, my friend has her on his 210.

 

[jjkim]

Well thank you for the info but thy do look nice mine is red so it looks cool

 

[SanmanReefer]

Well thank you for the info but thy do look nice mine is red so it looks cool

No problem, they are pretty cool.

 

[NYreefNoob]

they are carnivores
Care Level: Easy Temperament: Peaceful Reef Compatible: Yes Water Conditions: 72-78? F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025 Max. Size: 1' 2" Color Form: Red, Tan Diet: Carnivore Supplements: Trace Elements Origin: Caribbean, Eastern Asia, Fiji Family: Ophiuridae

brittle stars are omnivores
Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Water Conditions: 72-78? F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 Max. Size: 10" Color Form: Red, White Diet: Omnivore Supplements: Trace Elements Origin: Caribbean Family: Ophiodermatidae

and certain brittle stars are carnivores also


Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Water Conditions: 72-78? F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025 Max. Size: 10" Color Form: Black, Red Diet: Carnivore Supplements: Trace Elements Origin: Indonesia Family: Ophiotrichidae

in general with anything there is always the possibility, but usually if something is eating out of its range it usually tends to be from being under fed and or it is catching a sick or diseased fish and or animal

 

[troywalkerphoto]

I have one that is at least 1 foot across if not longer (green brittle star). Mine has never eaten a snail or fish that was not sick (almost dead). They don't move fast enough. If they are hungry they will try for sleeping fish but rarely have they ever succeeded.
If you are worried put them on the feeding cycle. Mine is on the same feeding cycle as my anemone. I feed by hand 2 or 3 silver sides every 3 to 7 days.
Works for me!

 

[jjkim]

Thanks for the info!
And okay i guess i have to hand feed him now but for about a week whenever i spot feed my dragoneth with pellets he comes out and eats the leftover with the hermits

 

[troywalkerphoto]

That's why they are great to have in the community. its a scavenger!