SSS not burrowing anymore

Cymonous · 10/23/2012, 08:31 AM

I just moved from Maryland to Ohio. I threw out the old sugar sized sand and crushed coral. I put in Caribsea Aragonite reef safe sand. It is NOT live. My sand sifting starfish would burrow itself all of the time after sifting through the sand. Now, the SSS does not burrow itself at all and even hunches its center when not in motion. I did notice there is a tealish tint around the mouth. Has anyone heard if SSS don't like larger grain sand? Or is it because the sand is not live? Also, my wife loves the SSS and doesn't want me to get rid of it.

Can I put live sand on top of the current sand? Would this possibly help the SSS? Any type of recommended sand?

Oh and since the SSS is not burrowing itself, it is getting picked at quite a bit from something. I am thinking more than likely from my peppermint shrimp.

Cymonous · 10/24/2012, 08:40 AM

So, the SSS is getting worse. Two of its rays came off last night before I got home around midnight. I am finding out the SSS may be either decaying or eating itself due to lack of food since I got rid of the sand bed. I put the SSS in a baggie and set it inside the tank with some fish food and a piece of Krill. It doesnt appear the SSS at anything though.

I had an idea of maybe getting a couple pounds of live sand from one of the tanks at the lfs. Could this possibly work as a way to feed the starfish?

BIG_KAHUNA · 10/24/2012, 09:03 AM

No expert on the stars but I would have to guess that when you threw out the old sand bed you also threw out all of his established, quickly regenerating food supply. How old was the previous sand bed? I can't put an exact time on it but I would say a sand bed has to be really established and large to provide enough "biofilm" for the SSS to eat. like 1+ yrs old. The tank also looks really small for a sand sifter. what size is it? He may have been doomed from the start =/

Pittsburgh · 10/24/2012, 09:13 AM

+1 on ^^^

Sand sifters need a well established sandbed with lots of food already in it. Live sand from a bag wouldn't cut it in any way.
Once your starfish starts loosing its arms, it's pretty much a goner, sorry.

In my experience sand sifting stars die either because of lack of food (as it was probably in your case) or poor water quality. Larger grain sand is probably not that big of a deal for them, as long as it contains enough food.

dml931 · 10/24/2012, 09:14 AM

i also own a sss, and after some reading i did through google searches, it sounds like your buddy is starving. according to many sources i read, it requires a deep sand bed and eats live meaty foods like pods and worms. im also reading that they shouldn't be considered for aquariums unless you plan to supplement its food supply as they usually eat the natural occurring food rather quickly. i would recommend getting the sand you described, two turtles in Akron will have that in stock today, a bottle of copapods and add both asap if you wish to attempt to save your sss. it might be too late as i read they remove their legs from themselves when they are starving to death. i hope not in your case. some brine shrimp or krill might help too.

good luck and keep me posted on the results as i have an interest in your outcome being a sss owner myself.

Dexters Reef · 10/24/2012, 10:01 AM

you could try target feeding him some mysis to see if he grabs it with his remaining arms...

I would agree it is not the grain size that is the problem, but rather the removal of the established sand bed which was full of micro food for the SSS.

Cymonous · 10/24/2012, 12:42 PM

I went to two turtles and got a couple pounds of sand. This was some dirty sand though as it was from a tank that held their live rock though. I put down the sand in my tank over the existing. I got some cleaning to do as a lot of dust covered my rocks. I put the SSS back in the tank on the sand. I had to leave for a job interview, but the SSS had yet to move. I have a bad feeling it was too late. Will update later.

SushiGirl · 10/24/2012, 08:26 PM

The sand bed won't repopulate with enough food fast enough to keep from losing him. As said, you can try target feeding, but it may be too late.

Cymonous · 10/25/2012, 05:51 AM

I did try target feeding him some krill and even tried some fish food pellets. The SSS didnt eat any of it. The SSS did die yesterday unfortunately.

dml931 · 10/25/2012, 09:54 PM

Im sorry to hear.

10/23/2012, 08:31 AM	#1
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	SSS not burrowing anymore I just moved from Maryland to Ohio. I threw out the old sugar sized sand and crushed coral. I put in Caribsea Aragonite reef safe sand. It is NOT live. My sand sifting starfish would burrow itself all of the time after sifting through the sand. Now, the SSS does not burrow itself at all and even hunches its center when not in motion. I did notice there is a tealish tint around the mouth. Has anyone heard if SSS don't like larger grain sand? Or is it because the sand is not live? Also, my wife loves the SSS and doesn't want me to get rid of it. Can I put live sand on top of the current sand? Would this possibly help the SSS? Any type of recommended sand? Oh and since the SSS is not burrowing itself, it is getting picked at quite a bit from something. I am thinking more than likely from my peppermint shrimp. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

10/24/2012, 08:40 AM	#2
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	So, the SSS is getting worse. Two of its rays came off last night before I got home around midnight. I am finding out the SSS may be either decaying or eating itself due to lack of food since I got rid of the sand bed. I put the SSS in a baggie and set it inside the tank with some fish food and a piece of Krill. It doesnt appear the SSS at anything though. I had an idea of maybe getting a couple pounds of live sand from one of the tanks at the lfs. Could this possibly work as a way to feed the starfish? __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

10/24/2012, 09:03 AM	#3
BIG_KAHUNA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: 4.815 S 162.342 E Posts: 478	No expert on the stars but I would have to guess that when you threw out the old sand bed you also threw out all of his established, quickly regenerating food supply. How old was the previous sand bed? I can't put an exact time on it but I would say a sand bed has to be really established and large to provide enough "biofilm" for the SSS to eat. like 1+ yrs old. The tank also looks really small for a sand sifter. what size is it? He may have been doomed from the start =/ __________________ Scott

10/24/2012, 09:13 AM	#4
Pittsburgh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 577	+1 on ^^^ Sand sifters need a well established sandbed with lots of food already in it. Live sand from a bag wouldn't cut it in any way. Once your starfish starts loosing its arms, it's pretty much a goner, sorry. In my experience sand sifting stars die either because of lack of food (as it was probably in your case) or poor water quality. Larger grain sand is probably not that big of a deal for them, as long as it contains enough food. __________________ Pittsburgh Current Tank Info: 95g Oceanic SPS reef. 30g sump, Sicce Syncra Silent 4.0 return, Reef Octopus 2000SSS skimmer, fuge with chaeto, BRS Carbon reactor, MR1 GFO reactor, BRS 2part dosing, Tunze ATO, 2x Tunze 6095 powerheads on a Tunze 7095, Gyre 130, 2xRadions xr30w pro.

10/24/2012, 10:01 AM	#6
Dexters Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 730	you could try target feeding him some mysis to see if he grabs it with his remaining arms... I would agree it is not the grain size that is the problem, but rather the removal of the established sand bed which was full of micro food for the SSS. __________________ 75G RR, Trigger Systems Ruby 30S sump, 2x250 MH and 4x54W T5HO, Octopus Diablo XS160, 4" DSB, 2 x MP40wES, 85 lbs LR, 2 x BRS Dosing Pumps, Finnex 300w titanium heater, Surf2 Algae Turf Scrubber

10/24/2012, 09:14 AM	#5
dml931 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 100	i also own a sss, and after some reading i did through google searches, it sounds like your buddy is starving. according to many sources i read, it requires a deep sand bed and eats live meaty foods like pods and worms. im also reading that they shouldn't be considered for aquariums unless you plan to supplement its food supply as they usually eat the natural occurring food rather quickly. i would recommend getting the sand you described, two turtles in Akron will have that in stock today, a bottle of copapods and add both asap if you wish to attempt to save your sss. it might be too late as i read they remove their legs from themselves when they are starving to death. i hope not in your case. some brine shrimp or krill might help too. good luck and keep me posted on the results as i have an interest in your outcome being a sss owner myself.

10/24/2012, 12:42 PM	#7
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	I went to two turtles and got a couple pounds of sand. This was some dirty sand though as it was from a tank that held their live rock though. I put down the sand in my tank over the existing. I got some cleaning to do as a lot of dust covered my rocks. I put the SSS back in the tank on the sand. I had to leave for a job interview, but the SSS had yet to move. I have a bad feeling it was too late. Will update later. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

10/24/2012, 08:26 PM	#8
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	The sand bed won't repopulate with enough food fast enough to keep from losing him. As said, you can try target feeding, but it may be too late. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

10/25/2012, 05:51 AM	#9
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	I did try target feeding him some krill and even tried some fish food pellets. The SSS didnt eat any of it. The SSS did die yesterday unfortunately. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

10/25/2012, 09:54 PM	#10
dml931 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 100	Im sorry to hear.