Is the serpent hunting or eating?

[anemonalex]

This serpent star is just hovering over this piece of shrimp. They positioned it and everything. So my question is does this thing actually eat the food I give it. Or is it trying to catch something down to pods? I haven't found anything on specific just the general opportunistic scavengers that can turn fish hunters when they get bigger. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

 They should want that shrimp.

 

[anemonalex]

So.. it's eating the decaying micro particles?

 

[anemonalex]

So.. it's eating the decaying micro particles?

It definitely wants and takes the shrimp. But I think it uses it as bait for its intended target

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I'm assuming this is the Green Serpent Star, Ophiarachna incrassata, yes?

If so, it may be waiting to see if the shrimp attracts more prey, but you should be able to tell when it has eaten because it'll start making a "pumping" motion for a while after eating:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6549144/

 

[anemonalex]

I'm assuming this is the Green Serpent Star, Ophiarachna incrassata, yes?

If so, it may be waiting to see if the shrimp attracts more prey, but you should be able to tell when it has eaten because it'll start making a "pumping" motion for a while after eating:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6549144/

I'm not sure the latin there are so many sub sp. It's some ophioderma sp. I am assuming. But I started feeding it sinking Hikari wafers. It eats way more of these then it ever did shrimp or mysis cubes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Deemed safe and sifts for food throughout the day

 

[areefer01]

I'm not sure the latin there are so many sub sp. It's some ophioderma sp. I am assuming. But I started feeding it sinking Hikari wafers. It eats way more of these then it ever did shrimp or mysis cubes.

The Ophiarachna incrassata, Green Serpent Star, is pretty easy to make out and it is a predator. I provided a link on them below. The one in your image above looks orange and brown.

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

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I'm not sure the latin there are so many sub sp. It's some ophioderma sp. I am assuming. But I started feeding it sinking Hikari wafers. It eats way more of these then it ever did shrimp or mysis cubes.

Yeah, this one should be harmless/beneficial.

 

[anemonalex]

The Ophiarachna incrassata, Green Serpent Star, is pretty easy to make out and it is a predator. I provided a link on them below. The one in your image above looks orange and brown.

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

Yeah for sure not green, I have a feeling it won't get much bigger than it currently is. It's at least 10 to 12in tip to tip

 

[Hadla]

I'm not sure the latin there are so many sub sp. It's some ophioderma sp. I am assuming. But I started feeding it sinking Hikari wafers. It eats way more of these then it ever did shrimp or mysis cubes.

Which hikaru pellets do you feed? I want to get some for my snails that aren’t just algae or very small… I was looking at carnivore but wasn’t sure if it’s only for freshwater (or if that even matters?) I’ve only mainly used frozen for my saltwater tanks since I mostly have predators

 

[anemonalex]

Which hikaru pellets do you feed? I want to get some for my snails that aren’t just algae or very small… I was looking at carnivore but wasn’t sure if it’s only for freshwater (or if that even matters?) I’ve only mainly used frozen for my saltwater tanks since I mostly have predators

Amazon product ASIN B001D6W2S8I got these to keep my conch off the roclwork

 

[anemonalex]

Is this how they digest food? It's been inflaiting' deflating like normal and holding a large bulge for long periods at a time. It was waterchange day anyways so I did 25pct change.

 

[anemonalex]

Here's pics I forgot to attach.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Is this how they digest food? It's been inflaiting' deflating like normal and holding a large bulge for long periods at a time.

That sounds quite similar to the post-feeding behavior exhibited by Ophiarachna incrassata to me, so I'd guess yes.

 

[Hadla]

Amazon product ASIN B001D6W2S8I got these to keep my conch off the roclwork

All I see is an Amazon logo with no links lol

 

[anemonalex]

All I see is an Amazon logo with no links lol