What is killing my fish. Please help

[BAYMAC]

Not sure exactly what a serpent star is. Might be an issue potentially?

Serpent stars are typically benign, though some call the green/orange/red brittle stars wrongly that, and those guys can catch fish at night.

 

[BAYMAC]

Good point @Coral reefer , missed that. @FreahSaltyGuy Is the serpent star a big green one?

Serpents aren't the same as brittle. You're thinking of brittle stars, they hunt. Serpents are detritivores IIRC

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

Serpents aren't the same as brittle. You're thinking of brittle stars, they hunt. Serpents are detritivores IIRC

True, but they could easily be mistaken. I know I wasn't aware of the distinction for a while.

 

[BAYMAC]

True, but they could easily be mistaken. I know I wasn't aware of the distinction for a while.

Mmmm well, yes and no. one is smooth, they other has bristles. I guess to someone that knows very little, they might look the same despite the obvious differences.

I always alerted my customers to the potential issues with brittles.

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

Mmmm well, yes and no. one is smooth, they other has bristles. I guess to someone that knows very little, they might look the same despite the obvious differences.

I always alerted my customers to the potential issues with brittles.

Good on you to do. I'm just pointing this out as a possibility to the OP, since they may have been like me and not understood there was a difference between serpent + brittle starfish and used the terms interchangeably.

 

[Bruce Spiegelman]

For the record though, @Coral reefer is likely right and it may not be a predator at all. It's unusual for multiple fish to be killed and no sign of them is left unless it's something like a Nem......

 

[under_water_ninja]

How big is the serpent star???

 

[xcaret]

How big is the serpent star???

Open the palm of your hand to get an idea.

 

[xcaret]

How to I find it or catch is it possible?

Is a night predator IMOE; we noticed fish and coral gone without explanation; my brother at night and only a moonlight on, lights in the room off, saw something dark moving among the rocks; he tried the plastic tongs with no success, those worms are strong. Finally he used long needle nose pliers; he cleaned them really good before plunging the pair in the tank and waited for the worm to come out and bingo !!! After that successful hunt, no more casualties.
There's a picture of it in a 5G bucket after it was caught somewhere buried here. I loaded the image on photo bucket but they changed their policy and now my pictures are held hostage on that platform. I'll try looking for it

 

[xcaret]

Here https://bareefers.org/forum/threads/huge-worm.11979/