Spider looking identification ask

[Wvreefnewb]

After cleaning my reef tank I sat down to admire my work. I then saw this rather large looking spider thing on my live rock. It then stood up and extracted a milky residue. What in lords names is this. I thought it was cool that it grew from the tank somehow but heard of how they can be detrimental to some type of corals. Help a brother out.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Serpent sea star

 

[Wvreefnewb]

Serpent sea star

Are they harmful to the tank?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Are they harmful to the tank?

They're deemed reef safe. Should be ok. Just keep an eye on him :)

 

[Wvreefnewb]

This one had six legs not 5

 

[Crabs McJones]

This one had six legs not 5

Perhaps brittle star then. Lets see if anyone else from #reefsquad knows :)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Cool. Not positive ya a serpent, my guess would be brittle Star.

And it was spawning (I know, I blushed a little too)

 

[Big G]

They like to eat very small clams. So if you are feeding your fish half clams, etc. you're probably, unknowingly feeding these guys. Otherwise they just feed off of other detritus. Cool find. I like them a lot. ;) Brittle stars have more spikes legs; sea serpents are smoother legs. Can't quite tell from the pic. Looks more "Brittle"- ish.

 

[Wvreefnewb]

So if I have one I will probably have others? Was it created in the tank?

 

[KJ]

I see brittle star with 4/5/6 arms ;)

 

[Crabs McJones]

So if I have one I will probably have others? Was it created in the tank?

Most likely came in on a piece of rock, they start out pretty small.

 

[reeftigergal]

Yip, brittle star, I just went and bought one myself.
Good find. Keep him but he will get BIG.. Had monster ones, harmless but cool to watch at night.
Enjoy.

 

[S.O.MLemos]

+1 on brittle star and you probably have lots more. I always have 50-100 little guys in my refugium but they are smaller than a dime. From my experience the larger brittles have a taste for snails so I only keep my banded serpent. Never heard of either of them bothering corals though