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!!

12-02-2007, 10:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cal Native Ricordea Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 198 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: 6,025 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. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

12-02-2007, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cal Native Ricordea Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 198 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: 6,025 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand Sifting Starfish Yes, you should be fine for a sand sifting star after 10 months. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

12-03-2007, 06:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,430 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 Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

12-03-2007, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,025 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! __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

12-03-2007, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 3,073 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. __________________ 240 Gallon MIXED REEF SUPER TANK Well at least thats what I want it to be 240 Gallon Custom Made Starphire Tank Life Reef Custom Sump,Life Reef Skimmer, Little Giant Return, 2 1200gph Koralias, 2 1580 GPH Tunze Turbelles, 1 Vortec, 72" Solaris I series, PM Kalk Reactor, Custom Made Fug, way to many more things to list Jose say hello to your NEW LITTLE FRIEND!!!!!!!!

12-03-2007, 06:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
CATALYST Achilles Tang Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 834 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 Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 563 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 BioCube The Nano Club Wear Gloves

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