ID Help, Serpent Sea Star

[C4ctus99]

This guy hitchhiked on some live rock. I thought he was a red serpent star but after doing more research those are bright red and he is more of a redish brown color. Slightly darker bands on his arm. Is he just a very maroon/redish colored banded serpent star or something else? Also, he loves the pellets I feed to my clownfish

 

[Wasabiroot]

It's very beautiful. Where was the liverock from - a closed system or imported?

 

[Wasabiroot]

Maybe Ophioderma longicauda?
not sure...there's probably someone here who specializes in these

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

It looks like some of the "Ruby Serpent Starfish" sold by Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy. I'm not sure what species it is though, and I don't know that I'd be able to find out:

You could either key out the species and find out that way (not necessarily an easy task, given that there are over 2,000 known species of Ophiuroids), or you could attempt to estimate the specimen's age (this is typically done by looking at the growth rings on the vertebral ossicles of the brittle star, which, unfortunately, typically requires both cutting out a section of the star's arm and the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope; this provides estimates, not exact ages, as the growth rings are thought to be seasonal, possibly somewhat dependent on nutrition, and to have age-related differences/changes in growth).

If anyone wants to try keying out the species, the following link should be able to help you narrow it down to the family level:
https://www.researchgate.net/public...a_leads_to_revised_morphological_descriptions

 

[C4ctus99]

It's very beautiful. Where was the liverock from - a closed system or imported?

I got it from Salty Bottom Reef Co, I think they pull straight out of the gulf of mexico.

 

[C4ctus99]

Maybe Ophioderma longicauda?
not sure...there's probably someone here who specializes in these

Every time I try and google a specific species name it just shows all the different brittle star pictures of all the species :face-with-tears-of-joy: It looks pretty close though

 

[C4ctus99]

It looks like some of the "Ruby Serpent Starfish" sold by Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy. I'm not sure what species it is though, and I don't know that I'd be able to find out:

It does, but when I google that species and/or name, they all have light colored bands, mine has dark. Thanks for the input! The real question is, should I keep it or try and sell/trade it? sand in my tank is about 6 weeks old, liverock is about 6 months old now, moved the tank in Christmas but it's been doing fine and has amphipods everywhere

 

[resortez]

That’s a very attractive sea star. Looks to be a serpent. The arms look to have been damaged but regenerating. Keep us updated on the status of the star of you can. Great find

 

[Wasabiroot]

It's hard to identify to the species level. Either way, it should be harmless

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

The real question is, should I keep it or try and sell/trade it?

If you don't like it or you want a different one, then you can sell or trade it, but it should act like just about any other serpent/brittle starfish. Personally, I'd say to keep it.

 

[resortez]

Everyone in the fish tank…..

 

[C4ctus99]

Okay, will do. Thanks for the help and thoughts. it's not exactly a super established tank but I figured out it will happily eat the pellets I feed my clown. Gonna sea about getting some bait fish from my dad as a treat for the carnivores in the tank.