sand sifting star
- Thread starter superhero
- Start date
yosemite sam
Active Member
Water parameters aside, I wouldn't add one to a tank that young because there are probably no where near enough critters in the sand bed for it to feed on.
Originally posted by Yosemite Sam
Water parameters aside, I wouldn't add one to a tank that young because there are probably no where near enough critters in the sand bed for it to feed on.
And do you want a starfish "feeding" on your sand critters?? These critters are a viable part of any sandbed filter. Do you want to ruin your sandbed fauna? :thinking:
ophiura
Active Member
Originally posted by ryan
Sand sifting stars will starve to death within a year. I wouldnt buy one.
Agree with all of the above....
Not worth it, IMO.
Most will starve in all but the largest tanks (again, my standard "there are exceptions but don't count on it" disclaimer applies).
Many will assume this is either a normal life span, or it was attacked by something and killed :nope: They commonly starve.
ophiura
Active Member
Well, there is a give and take here. It is both an LFS issue and a buyers issue...both then have the responsibility. But you don't really know that they weren't informed.
They are saying what the majority of people say about them. They are sand sifters - which they are...and they do a very good job. But their lifespan or wild habits aren't well known by those who don't study them. You can do a lot of researching on them and still find people recommending sand sifters stars. Again, people think that they live a short life, or that other things eat them...people don't usually want to think that they starved something. So the general impression is not that they starve, but that other things lead to their death and so there is no reason not to sell them. I don't think there was the intent to mislead anyone.
Now when people are sold predatory stars like chocolate chips for reef tanks, that is somewhat different- it is easy to learn that those stars are predatory with even a small amount of research.
They are saying what the majority of people say about them. They are sand sifters - which they are...and they do a very good job. But their lifespan or wild habits aren't well known by those who don't study them. You can do a lot of researching on them and still find people recommending sand sifters stars. Again, people think that they live a short life, or that other things eat them...people don't usually want to think that they starved something. So the general impression is not that they starve, but that other things lead to their death and so there is no reason not to sell them. I don't think there was the intent to mislead anyone.
Now when people are sold predatory stars like chocolate chips for reef tanks, that is somewhat different- it is easy to learn that those stars are predatory with even a small amount of research.
donmgicwon
Member
Ihave had one for about 11 months and there are plenty of worms in my sand bed still. He hasn't grown any but he is going strong. Get one if you want but make sure you see lots of worms/bug in the sand first. I think they have a very very long life span so as long as they a kept healthy and fed they should live many years, I think I read somewhere a decade or two.
ophiura
Active Member
No doubt that the larger the tank, the better the chances...I noticed that the original poster has a 150. There are a lot of variables - depth of sand, amount of rock (more rock = less surface area for the star). IMO the 75g and under is really pushing it...there is a middle ground between that and something like a 150 or so...and then odds of keeping one successfully go up. And then some will take to spot feeding or scavenging more than others.
Another factor to consider is why you want one. If for dealing with brown algae or stuff, they are not helping with that really. You may not actually see it much either. If just to have a star in there - there are better choices that will be seen more often.
The worst part is that they look fine until it is too late to save them - usually 9-12 months after introduction is the major period when losses occur due to starvation. They just start disintegrating - losing parts or entire arms. Often hermits will be found on them at this point, leading to the assumption that the hermits killed them.
Another factor to consider is why you want one. If for dealing with brown algae or stuff, they are not helping with that really. You may not actually see it much either. If just to have a star in there - there are better choices that will be seen more often.
The worst part is that they look fine until it is too late to save them - usually 9-12 months after introduction is the major period when losses occur due to starvation. They just start disintegrating - losing parts or entire arms. Often hermits will be found on them at this point, leading to the assumption that the hermits killed them.
paulcoates
Member
I have a crushed coral bed with 2 sand sifters in my 55 and they seem to be doing fine. they have been in there for about 6-8 weeks now each.
ryan
Member
I still wouldnt do it. I have a 46 gal with about 3-4 inch sand bed. I tried one and it lived for about 7 months then died. I didnt know that they starve to death. Went out and bought another one, and since my sandbed was already depleted of everything my star died in about 2 month. Then I read a post on this site and figured out why they were dying. Never again for me.
ryan
Member
If you want something to move the sandbed get a goby (I have an enginner, and hes always tearing my tank up) or a sand sifting snail. They supposably eat some of the good stuff from the sand bed, but Ive had mine for months now, and my sandbed is going good. They just stayed buried you might see them next to the glass every once in awhile. If you want a star pick a different kind. The sandsifting star is buried most of the time. Pretty boring star if you ask me.
ophiura
Active Member
Originally posted by paulcoates
I have a crushed coral bed with 2 sand sifters in my 55 and they seem to be doing fine. they have been in there for about 6-8 weeks now each.
They take on average 8-12 months or so to starve, so until you have them a year, I would be wary of saying they are doing fine, unfortunately. I strongly recommend trying to spot feed them just to see if they will eat it - anything meaty. IMO, with 2, they will simply starve faster unless they take to spot feeding.
I do not really ever recommend these stars in any tank, for any reason. JMO. I think they should be on the "do not buy list." But they are never a waste of money - it is a waste of an animal's life for no good reason.
paulcoates
Member
Ophiura,
Would krill do the job? If so, how do I spot feed them? Sit them on top of the krill (after all, it will float to the top)
Would krill do the job? If so, how do I spot feed them? Sit them on top of the krill (after all, it will float to the top)
kaotik
Member
Whats even funnier to me is that I went back to my LFS and returned the star, the whole time they were telling me that it would be fine as long as I started with live sand. They said it would have plenty to eat and wouldnt hurt my bio at all! I returned it anyways because what you guys are saying makes more sense to me.
My wife still wants a star though, so what about a normal non-sand sifting star like a serpent or linkina or some other type of smooth star? Will these have the same type of problem?
My wife still wants a star though, so what about a normal non-sand sifting star like a serpent or linkina or some other type of smooth star? Will these have the same type of problem?