Description
Nano serpent starfish, Ophioderma cinereum, are small, nano-sized specimens of this common starfish found throughout Folorida and the Caribbean. They are a very hardy, relatively slow growing starfish that are well suited for any reef tank, and the small size makes them especially suited for a nano or pico reef tank. They can grow to about 1 inch body diameter with arms in the 6 inches range, and if you want a larger one go to the starfish section, but these nano ones have a body that’s about .25 inches in diameter and arms about 2 inches long. Some people and books call these starfish brittle stars, and they are closely related, but we prefer to call all the smooth legged starfish serpent stars, and the spiny-legged stars brittle stars.
Serpent and brittle stars are easy to care for in an aquarium and will eat most foods offered to them. During the day they will generally hide in dark crevices and under things, but will quickly emerge at feeding time and scavenge for stray bits of food that fall to the bottom, so they make a great addition to your clean up crew, ridding your tank of any un eaten food. They generally get along well with other starfish, and aren’t known to eat corals, anemones, zoanthids, or most other sessile invertebrates. They will eat small clams and flame scallops, so I wouldn’t recommend mixing the two.
sunar357 (verified owner) –
Different color than the picture but doesn’t matter to me. This guy comes running whenever I feed the tank.
robert murdy –
I got two of these. One is green and the other is a muted black and tan stripped one. Very cool and the perfect size if you want a smaller one.
Terrence McComb –
Mine arrived in fine shape, and after acclimation found a spot under my rock. I have it in my small tank – a JBJ 6 g cube. The size was perfect, and it looks a lot like my 12 inch banded serpent that I have in my large tank (but on a much smaller scale!). These are great members of a clean up crew.
Zachary Ouellette –
It hides within the rock work and sticks its arms out a lot of the time. So far it will occasionally move as fast as it can from one spot in the rock work through a lighted area to another rock and stay there. Very cool little guy.
Austin Dietrich –
Very healthy… seems hungry all the time! Does hide under the rocks, but a great addition to the tank.
CHRISTOPHER DINKEL –
Mine was tan w/ black markings… Really pretty on the sand. Has already fought off a hermit crab and is scooting all over the tank when it’s chow time.
Jonathan Humphreys –
A great, highly active serpent star. They’ll hide under the rocks most of the time, but when you feed the tank, watch out! Mine both come running right out in the open to eat. Very cool!
Thai Tran –
Hides under rocks most of the time then rushes for food when they sense it!