Recent content by ophiuroid

They are really amazing critters. Brittlestars get a lot of feeding injuries...basically, they often eat too much and food breaks right through the top of the disk. This is the general explanation IMO for most unexplained holes in the disk of brittlestars. But if the star is otherwise healthy...

We're talking about different beasts here. Brittlestars/serpentstars can not do this. The arm may continue to move, much like the tails of geckos and things that fall off to amuse a predator. Certain seastars, such as Linckia, can grow a new animal from part of the arm (but the animal basically...

There is no biological difference between brittlestars and serpentstars. I find it unlikely to be the brittlestar would kill the Gramma and not consume it. That doesn't sound right at all. They normally would eat it, not just cut it up. Doesn't make any sense, based on other reports of attacks...

Just remember, the big bright red serpent, Ophioderma squamosissimum, is one of the most delicate serpentstars in the hobby. Once established they are pretty tough, but be sure they are acclimated for a very long time (many, many hours). They are considered rare by scientists (funny that really...

This particular species will not generally accept any spot feeding, but you can try.

They do not eat most forms of algae. They do not eat detritus. They do not eat critters in a sand bed...they may, may eat some small critters like copepods...but really it is not very well known or understood. They can not be spot fed anything. They belong in large, mature reef systems, at...

It has been postulated that it is eating bacteria/surface DOM suspended by surface tension.

They can reproduce asexually, by splitting. Here are some more articles/related threads for you, by Rob Toonen: Scroll down to "BioGeek" reply Article 1 Article 2

Any food for filter feeders, store bought or home made, should help, though it needs to be quite small particle size...some of the liquid diets, for example. This species is more commonly called a pink/green cucumber. You may be able to search for information. Doing a search on any board, or on...

Unfortunately, many stores mis identify cucumbers and there is a good chance that you don't have a sand sifter at all. You may have a filter feeder, which will crawl up on the rocks and stay there. What color is it? Have you ever seen the tentacles? Are they highly branched, like a tree...

You haven't had success, so you ordered 3 of them???? This is somewhat strange logic?!?! Patience my friend! :) Unfortunately, though, I think you will continue to have trouble with them. Sorry to say it, but there are some factors which come into play in this opinion: Your tank is marginal...

This is an excellent post (and excellent article by Dr. Toonen), and those who believe they are successful because they are feeding brine shrimp nauplii and any filter feeder foods should take a moment to read it. I do not see how they could even eat whole shrimp (based on the anatomy); but the...

If you turn the star over, you should see some signs of activity from the tube feet. If not, it probably has not survived. They are delicate enough as it. Also a good idea to hold off ordering really delicate things during the winter...or at least the peak of it ;) I suspect a lot of animals...

If it is a typical burgandy star, then it is a reef safe star, and will not typically respond to any spot feeding, unlike chocolate chip, generals, bahama, etc stars. They do not eat detritus, or anything of the sort. They are not scavengers. They must have a lot of mature LR in a large tank...

Crown of thorns seastars are a normal, natural part of the Indo-Pacific coral reef ecosystem. And it was humans who were stupid enough not to learn from the past- many stars, in the wild, with appropriate diets, can be cut up into pieces and survive quite nicely. Linckia comes to mind, as do...