Making my first purchase

[2639]

I found this starfish at a new pet store today. I don't know if it's a serpent or a brittle but it was really nice looking.

I plan to have corals in my tank (haven't decided on which if that matters) and need to know if either a brittle or serpent is bad in a reef. Plus, I've read (here) that some stars eat diatomis blooms.

My goal is that when I buy something for my tank is to make sure that it has at least a 'purpose'. Right now, I need something that will eat the brown diatom algea and think I've read that those starfish are fairly hearty...

That being said, I should point out that I am placing an order for 40 pounds of LR from LiveRocks.Com and it's gonna be here tuesday. Only 20 lbs are going in at first, and unless I cure it, and add it slowly, a mini-cycle will occur.

On a lighter, less concerned note, I'm gonna see if my LFS has hermit crabs. For what I've said the star if for, should I get red or blue-legged ones?

[2639]

I'm also thinking of getting a clown today. Would a black clown be an ideal first resident along with the above said star?

[Doctor_Reef]

Are you still showing ammonia in the tank??? If so you ought not be adding anything to the tank yet!!!!

[NaH2O]

I agree with Ron. Don't add anything, especially a star, if you are still cycling. Starfish are very sensitive to parameter swings, and ammonia, so when you do get one, acclimate it very very slowly. The only brittle star (sometimes sold as serpent star) I would avoid, is the Green variety. These are hunters, and often steal snails and sometimes get fish, if not fed regularly. They make their body look bridge-like (the only way I can think of describing it), so the fish swim under it :D. The green brittle star my sister had, I would watch at night, it wrapped its arms around the snails on the glass and would pry them off. We ended up feeding it regularly, which seemed to lessen the snail eating behavior.

Here is a link for you: Ophiuroids in the Home Aquarium (http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid/html/aquarium.html)


Reefkeepers may wish to avoid the large green brittlestar Ophiarachna incrassata because of its notorious ability to hunt for other tank inhabitants. This is not something that is certain to happen, but it is possible. Some people report them consuming a wide variety of species, from snails to shrimp and fish, regardless of spot feeding.

[cich1]

i had a green brittle star and when it was little it would take shrimp pellets from my hand but when it got bigger he lost interest in the pellets and fish started to disappear so i got rid of him and haven't lost a fish since

[cich1]

2639, the 20# of rock that don't go into the make sure you keep in a tub of sw with a powerhead and heater, theres no point in spending money on fresh lr and then let it die.
my advice though would be to put it all in at once and get it over with

[2639]

Points well taken. I'll hold off on the animals until I get my LR in place and my cycles have finished. I also still need to buy a SCWD and build a wave-maker. It's better if I wait on the animals :D

[Doctor_Reef]

Ditto's on everything!!!!

[Condiman]

It's better if I wait on the animals :D

Thats the best thing you can do. The way I learned is the more you rush the more you get fustrated.