Disapearing fish

[cane]

Came home to find the problem. In the last few months I have lost a small sailfin and a damsel. Today I see my fire angle is missing. As I search the tank I find my brittle sea star is hidding behind a rock and eating him. Not happy at all as it was one of my fav fish.

 

[143MPCo]

ouch... got to close?

 

[melypr1985]

Just curious... is it one of those really large green brittle stars? I've heard they are very predatory of fish whereas the smaller brittle and serpent stars would only (usually) take advantage of a freshly dead fish. I could be totally off base here, just looking to learn something new today. :)

 

[cane]

Yes it is big 6-8 inches

 

[melypr1985]

That looks a lot like the big ones that are predatory and not reef safe. They get huge and will actually attack fish. Let me see if I can find some info on it for you and you can see if that's what it is.

 

[melypr1985]

http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/giant-green-brittle-stars-of-death-when.html

Check that out

 

[Tahoe61]

Yes large green serpent stars will hunt and eat sleeping fish, they get lucky once and it becomes a learned behavior. Re-home the brittle and your fish mysteries will probably stop.

 

[Humblefish]

Yes large green serpent stars will hunt and eat sleeping fish, they get lucky once and it becomes a learned behavior. Re-home the brittle and your fish mysteries will probably stop.

^^Agree. I actually once witnessed a large green serpent take down a goby that didn't move fast enough. Put that starfish in your sump for detritus removal, if all your pump intakes are covered.

 

[hybridazn]

Man that stinks, but yea you def found the problem. Time to pull him out and relocate

 

[cane]

Yea he has been moved into an empty QT tank. Anyone want him

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Sorry about your fish but at least now you know you have a predatory starfish.

-Sal

 

[Bbaz123456]

Wow! I was just about to tell you, there was no way your brittle star killed your fish...I stand corrected. I kept one for many years and he grew over 24" and I never once witnessed him Eating a fish.
I guess they must survive in the wild somehow when they are not getting regular feedings of frozen chopped seafood

 

[Cleo642]

Man that stinks, but yea you def found the problem. Time to pull him out and relocate

Still not use to your avatar. Lol

 

[Cleo642]

Sorry about your fish.

 

[Tahoe61]

There used to be a video of a Green Serpent Star capturing a sleeping fish. Wish I could find it again.

Green Serpents are usually the culprit, but I have heard of Banded Serpent doing so as well.

 

[Patientman]

If not re-homed ... maybe a good resident for the sump ... free up your quarantine tank for more NEW fish! :)