Sand Sifting Starfish

Cal Native · 12-02-2007, 10:24 PM

What is the normal activity of the sand sifting starfish? I just bought one at my LFS yesterday and it buried itself right away now this evening it is moving around the tank quite a bit. Do I need to feed it anything in particular? I tried some shrimp pieces but it didn't seem interested. Or do I just let it eat whatever it can find?
Thanks

Frankie · 12-02-2007, 10:41 PM

It will feed on it's own. Mine cruses the sand most of te time just under it. Sometimes like today it will go up the glass. You really need a mature sand bed to keep these guys alive.

Cal Native · 12-02-2007, 11:05 PM

my tank is about 10 months old is that old enough?

Frankie · 12-02-2007, 11:12 PM

Yes, you should be fine for a sand sifting star after 10 months.

lcstorc · 12-03-2007, 06:16 PM

EVen though I don't feed mine specifically he seems to come out every night when I feed the tank. I've never seen him eat any of the food like my serpent star does.

Frankie · 12-03-2007, 06:28 PM

Mine would quickly starve to death if he depended on being fed! Good Lord the competition he would have in my system!

michael_cb_125 · 12-03-2007, 06:44 PM

I had two in my 100 gallon. They cruised all over. They climbed the glass, rocks, crawled on top of the sand. Then I would not see them for several weeks. Mine grew like crazy. Then I put my Harlequin shrimp in there. Now I am starless.
Sand Sifting stars eat tiny little food particles. I never saw mine eat anything.

CATALYST · 12-03-2007, 06:47 PM

Mine would hide sometimes for a couple days and be out wandering too. I think they do best in a big tank though. My lfs steered me wrong and sold me one for my new aquapod. He lasted 9 months. I would put mysis under the sand to supplement but I think the combination of new tank and small tank led to it's demise. Poor guy...I really like him and they are efficient sand caretakers.

lcstorc · 12-04-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_cb_125

I had two in my 100 gallon. They cruised all over. They climbed the glass, rocks, crawled on top of the sand. Then I would not see them for several weeks. Mine grew like crazy. Then I put my Harlequin shrimp in there. Now I am starless.
Sand Sifting stars eat tiny little food particles. I never saw mine eat anything.

I've never seen mine on the rocks. Only the sand and the glass. It is super cool to watch them flip over after they fall off of the glass and land upside down. Every time I watch fascinated.

Royalscott · 12-11-2007, 07:33 PM

[quote=lcstorc;353574It is super cool to watch them flip over after they fall off of the glass and land upside down. Every time I watch fascinated.[/QUOTE]

When we first put in our sand sifter, he would go up the glass, fall off and then the fun began! I love watching him flip himself back over. He is now named acrobat!!

jaksprat1 · 06-18-2008, 02:43 AM

I've had one in my 75 gal for 3-4 weeks, and for the first 3 he was invisible - He was under the sand the entire time and I thought maybe he had died, but then he showed up and started moving on top of the sand like a hovercraft. He seems to be doing fine just eating whatever he finds. He buries himself and then comes out - no particular scheduled behavior.

12-02-2007, 10:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cal Native Serpent Star Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 202 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sand Sifting Starfish What is the normal activity of the sand sifting starfish? I just bought one at my LFS yesterday and it buried itself right away now this evening it is moving around the tank quite a bit. Do I need to feed it anything in particular? I tried some shrimp pieces but it didn't seem interested. Or do I just let it eat whatever it can find? Thanks

12-02-2007, 10:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish It will feed on it's own. Mine cruses the sand most of te time just under it. Sometimes like today it will go up the glass. You really need a mature sand bed to keep these guys alive. __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

12-02-2007, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cal Native Serpent Star Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 202 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish my tank is about 10 months old is that old enough?

12-02-2007, 11:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish Yes, you should be fine for a sand sifting star after 10 months. __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

12-03-2007, 06:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,940 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish EVen though I don't feed mine specifically he seems to come out every night when I feed the tank. I've never seen him eat any of the food like my serpent star does. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

12-03-2007, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish Mine would quickly starve to death if he depended on being fed! Good Lord the competition he would have in my system! __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

12-03-2007, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 3,629 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish I had two in my 100 gallon. They cruised all over. They climbed the glass, rocks, crawled on top of the sand. Then I would not see them for several weeks. Mine grew like crazy. Then I put my Harlequin shrimp in there. Now I am starless. Sand Sifting stars eat tiny little food particles. I never saw mine eat anything. __________________ Owner of an Elos System 70 Now I have a jealous girlfriend!!! HaHa

12-03-2007, 06:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
CATALYST Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,097 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish Mine would hide sometimes for a couple days and be out wandering too. I think they do best in a big tank though. My lfs steered me wrong and sold me one for my new aquapod. He lasted 9 months. I would put mysis under the sand to supplement but I think the combination of new tank and small tank led to it's demise. Poor guy...I really like him and they are efficient sand caretakers.

12-11-2007, 07:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Royalscott Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 777 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish [quote=lcstorc;353574It is super cool to watch them flip over after they fall off of the glass and land upside down. Every time I watch fascinated.[/QUOTE] When we first put in our sand sifter, he would go up the glass, fall off and then the fun began! I love watching him flip himself back over. He is now named acrobat!! __________________ Janetta & Scott 29 Gallon Bio Cube & 14 Gallon Bio Cube The Nano Club Wear Gloves

06-18-2008, 02:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
jaksprat1 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 9 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish I've had one in my 75 gal for 3-4 weeks, and for the first 3 he was invisible - He was under the sand the entire time and I thought maybe he had died, but then he showed up and started moving on top of the sand like a hovercraft. He seems to be doing fine just eating whatever he finds. He buries himself and then comes out - no particular scheduled behavior.

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