Banded Brittle Sea Star

Banded Brittle Sea Star (Ophiocoma scolopendrina). It is a peaceful species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its distinctive banded coloration, long flexible arms, intricate patterns, and scavenging abilities. Males typically cannot be easily distinguished from females, while females/juveniles appear similar in coloration but are smaller and less robust. They reach about 6–10 inches in arm span and should be housed in aquariums of at least 30 gallons.

Provide a setup with a fine sandbed, live rock for grazing and hiding, and open spaces for movement, along with stable water parameters (salinity ~1.020–1.025, temperature ~72–79°F, pH ~8.1–8.4), and a secure lid since many brittle star species can escape or climb out of tanks. Diet should consist of detritus, leftover meaty foods (mysis, brine shrimp, copepods), and algae, and with proper care, this invertebrate makes a unique and eye-catching addition to a reef or marine aquarium.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.