Banded Serpent Star
Banded Serpent Star
Serpent stars get lumped in with brittle stars constantly, but the giveaway is texture: a serpent star’s arms are smooth, while a brittle star’s bristle with tiny spines the entire length. This banded species spends daylight wedged deep into rockwork, only coming out after lights-out to scavenge whatever the fish missed, hauling its disc around with long, whip-like arms that move a lot faster than the word "starfish" implies. Reef safe and completely inoffensive — about as low-maintenance as cleanup crew gets.
Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~10" arm span · Min tank: 20 gal · Reef safe: Yes · Diet: Scavenger, detritus/meaty foods
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Ophiolepis superba
- Common name
- Banded Serpent Star
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Max size
- ~10" arm span
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- Diet
- Scavenger, detritus/meaty foods
- Reef safe
- Yes
When it ships
Most non-quarantined stock goes out the week you order. If we do not already have the animal in-house we source it first — allow up to two weeks for it to reach us. Live animals leave Monday and Tuesday, and Early AM Overnight is the only service that carries a live arrival guarantee.
The live guarantee
Shipped Early AM Overnight: a 1-hour DOA window from confirmed delivery, and nothing beyond it. Next Day Air and 2-Day carry no live arrival guarantee, and neither does USPS Priority. Local pickup or local delivery: 24 hours, if you bring a water sample from your aquarium and we test it before the animal goes home. Maintenance clients: 60 days when we service the aquarium at least twice a month, 28 days on a monthly plan.
Expert guidance
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