sandstar on glass?

KillerReef · 08/25/2009, 05:23 PM

My sandstar is cruising on the front glass today? Is this normal? Should i move it back to the sand?

TIA,
Dave

billdogg · 08/25/2009, 06:23 PM

a sandsifting star in a 80g tank is probably looking for food. IMO, unless you have a VERY large tank (150+) that has been up for a couple years, and a DSB, what you likely have now is sand that is devoid of life and a starfish already well on it's way to a certain, slow death from starvation. JM.02

take it back to the LFS if you can - try a serpent star - they are great additions to any tank

Aqua Keepers · 08/25/2009, 08:50 PM

I too was thinking that it's probably hungry. One of these can strip the sandbed in an 80g of food in a very short time.

KillerReef · 08/26/2009, 12:20 AM

Thanks for the replies...

Quote:

that has been up for a couple years, and a DSB, what you likely have now is sand that is devoid of life

True no DSB, but the tank is very full of life, been up since 2001, more than a couple years, I would say...

Flipper62 · 08/26/2009, 01:10 AM

Stars need a very established tank. They need a lot of rock that they can eat off of. If the star is on the glass, its looking for food.

You can try to spot feed them, but its still going to need food all of the time.

Aqua Keepers · 08/26/2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillerReef
Thanks for the replies...

True no DSB, but the tank is very full of life, been up since 2001, more than a couple years, I would say...

A 1-2" SB in a tank your size does not provide enough life to sustain a star very long.

KillerReef · 08/26/2009, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the replies, I'll take it back...

EnglishRebel · 08/26/2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillerReef
Thanks for the replies, I'll take it back...

Don't get a Green Serpent Star as they are known fish killers.

ryddo · 08/26/2009, 12:28 PM

You are kidding me, Green Serpents kill fish??? I had two fish go missing. Didn't find them in the tank and didn't find them on the floor. I guess I know where they went. One large Green Serpent Star for sale and really cheap!

RSJennings · 08/26/2009, 12:37 PM

I bought a sand sifter 3 month after I started my 29 gal reef, so it been in my tank about a year. It was 2 1/2" maybe 3" when I got it and it is every bit of 5 to 5 1/2" now, and it is on the glass 2 to 3 time a week that I see. I don't think it is hungry or it would not have grown so much. I do feed my tank very well & alot of meaty foods that settle on the bottom of the tank.

KillerReef · 08/26/2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnglishRebel
Don't get a Green Serpent Star as they are known fish killers.

Yeah, I had heard that about the green ones, but what about the other colors? LiveAquaria only sells Sea Serpent Stars, but does not guarantee a color(green, tan or brown)

KillerReef · 08/26/2009, 01:02 PM

Actually, don't you mean the green BRITTLE startfish?

Mayesj101 · 08/26/2009, 01:38 PM

Green brittle starfish (O. incrassata) are known to kill and eat small fish. Serpent stars are, to my knowledge, completely reef-safe.

KillerReef · 08/26/2009, 04:26 PM

That's what I thought, and since I have a serpent shipping tomorrow, I'd like a definitive answer. I used to have a black brittle starfish in my tank 6-7 years ago with no problems whatsoever...

08/25/2009, 05:23 PM	#1
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	sandstar on glass? My sandstar is cruising on the front glass today? Is this normal? Should i move it back to the sand? TIA, Dave __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/25/2009, 06:23 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	a sandsifting star in a 80g tank is probably looking for food. IMO, unless you have a VERY large tank (150+) that has been up for a couple years, and a DSB, what you likely have now is sand that is devoid of life and a starfish already well on it's way to a certain, slow death from starvation. JM.02 take it back to the LFS if you can - try a serpent star - they are great additions to any tank __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/26/2009, 01:10 AM	#5
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Stars need a very established tank. They need a lot of rock that they can eat off of. If the star is on the glass, its looking for food. You can try to spot feed them, but its still going to need food all of the time. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/26/2009, 09:36 AM	#7
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	Thanks for the replies, I'll take it back... __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/26/2009, 12:37 PM	#10
RSJennings Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 56	I bought a sand sifter 3 month after I started my 29 gal reef, so it been in my tank about a year. It was 2 1/2" maybe 3" when I got it and it is every bit of 5 to 5 1/2" now, and it is on the glass 2 to 3 time a week that I see. I don't think it is hungry or it would not have grown so much. I do feed my tank very well & alot of meaty foods that settle on the bottom of the tank. __________________ Life is too short not to fish. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon reef tank, 55gal mixed reef

08/25/2009, 08:50 PM	#3
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	I too was thinking that it's probably hungry. One of these can strip the sandbed in an 80g of food in a very short time.

08/26/2009, 12:28 PM	#9
ryddo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Avondale, PA (19311) Posts: 221	You are kidding me, Green Serpents kill fish??? I had two fish go missing. Didn't find them in the tank and didn't find them on the floor. I guess I know where they went. One large Green Serpent Star for sale and really cheap!

08/26/2009, 01:02 PM	#12
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	Actually, don't you mean the green BRITTLE startfish? __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/26/2009, 01:38 PM	#13
Mayesj101 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 122	Green brittle starfish (O. incrassata) are known to kill and eat small fish. Serpent stars are, to my knowledge, completely reef-safe.

08/26/2009, 04:26 PM	#14
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	That's what I thought, and since I have a serpent shipping tomorrow, I'd like a definitive answer. I used to have a black brittle starfish in my tank 6-7 years ago with no problems whatsoever... __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids