Bad Invert List

[Hawkeye]

Thought I'd start a list of inverts that I think aren't great for reefkeeping tanks.

Today I will start with a brittle/serpent star that is relatively common. I've seen them at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and sold relatively commonly on the boards.

It is Ophiarachna incrassata. Here's a couple pics:

Comments:
Anthony Calfo says: "Ophiarachna incrassata, the infamous Green Brittle Star, and a few related kin are the rare exceptions to the otherwise reef-safe and well-behaved Ophiuroid serpent and brittle starfish class. In some tanks O. incrassata will behave for months or even years, while in other tanks they tend to catch and kill motile creatures whenever possible They are active predators, which arch their central disk above their legs to form a trap for fishes and other prey. A lurker pictured here."

photo by Anthony Calfo

wetwebmedia: Green Brittle star "The butler did it"
(random threads on ppl's fish getting eaten)
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/grbritstrf.htm

 

[ReeferNets]

ooooh Scary.....

They make me uncomfortable.

 

[The_Codfather]

I had one bigger then my hand when i first stocked my tank and believe it did eat one of my fish.. I took it back

 

[jimroth]

There sure are plenty of bad inverts for reef tanks!

A couple of real beauties come to mind, the Sea Apple, know for its poisonous payload, and those darn beautiful crinoid feather stars, Asolutely Fish always has them, I am told they starve to death if not target fed daily. Some things which used to show up all the time are thankfully a litte less common, such as Sea Pens and flame scallops.

 

[Hawkeye]

There sure are plenty of bad inverts for reef tanks!

A couple of real beauties come to mind, the Sea Apple, know for its poisonous payload, and those darn beautiful crinoid feather stars, Asolutely Fish always has them, I am told they starve to death if not target fed daily. Some things which used to show up all the time are thankfully a litte less common, such as Sea Pens and flame scallops.

Thanks for the lead-in segue Jim!!!

Here's a link about the risks of purchasing the "Sea Apple" for our reef tanks:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/invert.htm

If you do still decide on the sea apple - please realize this should be considered an advanced reefkeeper skill.

 

[Dave]

redbugs....i don't recommend them

I would say most of the starfish other than mini stars are generally bad choices. There are some limited exceptions...and even those seem to be touch and go.

Sea Hare is another bad purchase. Need a plan to pass it on, shortly after purchase.