Sand sifting stars

jjirsa78 · 02/22/2006, 12:09 PM

So, I recently acquired a sand-sifting star for detrius removal and general entertainment, and as I've been reading, I'm seeing a lot of people that believe that many stars slowly starve to death in aquariums.

Are there any indicators of sand sifting stars health that I should be especially aware of? I'm trying to walk a fine line between feeding enough that there's leftover food on the sand floor for him, and not overfeeding and encouraging algae growth, so any indicators of whether or not he's really getting enough food would be appreciated.

His behaviour seems normal, though I have little to base it on - he's under the sand about 20 hours a day, coming out about an hour after the lights go out, makes a trip up the glass, across the top, then back down to the sand, where he disappears for a day or so.

Thoughts?

Joshthenosh · 02/22/2006, 12:13 PM

cool i want one of them!

kamil5000 · 02/22/2006, 12:18 PM

Generally, most stars are not adequate for a small reef and will usually starve; However, an established system 75+ gallons should be fine for 1 sand sifting star.

Do not try to delibertly overfeed to get some food to your star. these stars usually scavange for food and microfauna in the sand which are always present in a larger established reef.

Black Phantom · 02/22/2006, 02:49 PM

The only way your sifter is going to survive is if you have a very well established sand bed. Thats where the majority of his food will come from.
There is a really good article on this site about stars that you should read. Has a lot more info.
Remember that even a large tank has a lot of space taken up by live rock so figure out how much actual area your sifter has to feed.
Chances are it's not that much.

Ehgemus · 02/22/2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjirsa78
makes a trip up the glass, across the top, then back down to the sand

Thoughts?

I have one and I have never seen him go up the glass! Can thay do that

Gooli · 02/22/2006, 04:55 PM

sounds like he's acting normal...i've had mine for a year now and just added another

bertoni · 02/22/2006, 04:57 PM

I wouldn't buy any of these stars. They usually manage to make live sand a lot less live and then starve to death. The process seems to take about a year to a year and a half. I'm not sure that a 75g is big enough on average for a sand-sifting star.

mike89t · 02/22/2006, 05:08 PM

From Dr Ron:

Sand Sifting Starfish eat only worms, clams, burrowing sea cucumbers or other animals living in the sediments. They are not scavengers nor do they eat detritus - only live animals. In nature it takes several dozen to several hundred square yards of animal rich sediments to support such an aniimal. They do not survive for any appreciable period in most marine aquaria.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ht=star+sifting

02/22/2006, 12:09 PM	#1
jjirsa78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aliso Viejo, CA Posts: 445	Sand sifting stars So, I recently acquired a sand-sifting star for detrius removal and general entertainment, and as I've been reading, I'm seeing a lot of people that believe that many stars slowly starve to death in aquariums. Are there any indicators of sand sifting stars health that I should be especially aware of? I'm trying to walk a fine line between feeding enough that there's leftover food on the sand floor for him, and not overfeeding and encouraging algae growth, so any indicators of whether or not he's really getting enough food would be appreciated. His behaviour seems normal, though I have little to base it on - he's under the sand about 20 hours a day, coming out about an hour after the lights go out, makes a trip up the glass, across the top, then back down to the sand, where he disappears for a day or so. Thoughts?

02/22/2006, 12:18 PM	#3
kamil5000 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 398	Generally, most stars are not adequate for a small reef and will usually starve; However, an established system 75+ gallons should be fine for 1 sand sifting star. Do not try to delibertly overfeed to get some food to your star. these stars usually scavange for food and microfauna in the sand which are always present in a larger established reef. __________________ "It's supposed to look like that! - It's a hair and slime algea biotope!" Current Tank Info: 200g display tank - Envision Acrylic, 50g LR sump, 40g water treatment tank, 75g RDSB + refugium, Deltec TC 2560 external skimmer, Deltec phos & carb reactor, Tunze Wavebox plus Tunze ph, 2 x Iwaki returns, Koralline reactor, LED lights

02/22/2006, 02:49 PM	#4
Black Phantom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 241	The only way your sifter is going to survive is if you have a very well established sand bed. Thats where the majority of his food will come from. There is a really good article on this site about stars that you should read. Has a lot more info. Remember that even a large tank has a lot of space taken up by live rock so figure out how much actual area your sifter has to feed. Chances are it's not that much. __________________ Mama always said "Go big or stay home" Current Tank Info: 230 gal salt tank, 50 gal sump, 50 gal refugium, Two 20 gallon frag tanks, Bullet skimmer, 300 lbs live rock. 3x250 MH lights and a 45 gallon fresh water tank

02/22/2006, 04:55 PM	#6
Gooli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 3,746	sounds like he's acting normal...i've had mine for a year now and just added another __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. " - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 180g SPS

02/22/2006, 04:57 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't buy any of these stars. They usually manage to make live sand a lot less live and then starve to death. The process seems to take about a year to a year and a half. I'm not sure that a 75g is big enough on average for a sand-sifting star. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/22/2006, 12:13 PM	#2
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	cool i want one of them!

02/22/2006, 05:08 PM	#8
mike89t Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chandler, Az Posts: 1,889	From Dr Ron: Sand Sifting Starfish eat only worms, clams, burrowing sea cucumbers or other animals living in the sediments. They are not scavengers nor do they eat detritus - only live animals. In nature it takes several dozen to several hundred square yards of animal rich sediments to support such an aniimal. They do not survive for any appreciable period in most marine aquaria. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ht=star+sifting __________________ Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks. Current Tank Info: Sold my 150G reef tank. :^(