scubachris
Member
Ok I bought a sand sifting starfish the other day and all seems good so far. I have 1 question. Do I need to suplement feed it with anything, or is it good on its own?
Sand sifting Starfish Question
- Thread starter scubachris
- Start date
sk8shorty01
Active Member
What size tank?
How long has it been running?
What is your current stock list?
How much sand do you have?
What kind of CUC do you have?
How long has it been running?
What is your current stock list?
How much sand do you have?
What kind of CUC do you have?
M
mr.reef
Guest
i had two in my 125g for about two months because it was that bad will when i got done i toke one back and now the one i still have i put some kill for it to eat.
cablebox615
Member
I have had one in my tank for about 6 months. I have never feed it. I really never feed any of my inverts, except my cleaner shrimp because he hand feeds. I wouldn't be too worried about feeding your starfish. It should be fine with whats in the sand.
cablebox615
Member
Here is a pic of mine, six months no supplemental feeding. This is it climbing up the wall. Idk why it is doing that. I've only seen it do that twice.
ophiura
Active Member
Sand sifter stars rarely take to spot feeding, and most will starve to death in our tanks in 12-18 months unless it has a large sand bed.
It consumes the beneficial creatures in a sand bed and then slowly starves without any apparent signs of trouble. The arms then begin to disintegrate, and most people think they have been killed by crabs or something.
These are sand bed animals and IMO, being on the glass is not particularly normal for them. Success is measured in years, I'm afraid. they can survive in large tanks (again with open sand beds) but in most tanks under 100 g they do not do well long term (over 2 years).
I never, ever, recommend keeping them.
It consumes the beneficial creatures in a sand bed and then slowly starves without any apparent signs of trouble. The arms then begin to disintegrate, and most people think they have been killed by crabs or something.
These are sand bed animals and IMO, being on the glass is not particularly normal for them. Success is measured in years, I'm afraid. they can survive in large tanks (again with open sand beds) but in most tanks under 100 g they do not do well long term (over 2 years).
I never, ever, recommend keeping them.
cablebox615
Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/3039340
These are sand bed animals and IMO, being on the glass is not particularly normal for them. Success is measured in years, I'm afraid. they can survive in large tanks (again with open sand beds) but in most tanks under 100 g they do not do well long term (over 2 years).
It is in the sand 99.8% of the time. I just thought it was a good pic. I guess mine is just not normal, and I like it that way. Its doing fine now so im not worried. I look at it as if something happens to it in a year or two them o well, Ill just buy another one. I like them. So I do recommend keeping them.
http:///forum/post/3039340
These are sand bed animals and IMO, being on the glass is not particularly normal for them. Success is measured in years, I'm afraid. they can survive in large tanks (again with open sand beds) but in most tanks under 100 g they do not do well long term (over 2 years).
It is in the sand 99.8% of the time. I just thought it was a good pic. I guess mine is just not normal, and I like it that way. Its doing fine now so im not worried. I look at it as if something happens to it in a year or two them o well, Ill just buy another one. I like them. So I do recommend keeping them.
oceansidefish
Active Member
Personally I don't think it's good advice to give someone to buy something that is going to suffer in their tank....Would you buy a cat and figure it will eat what it can catch and if it does not then oh well??? I agree with Ophiura on this one...They need 100+ gallon tank for food
cablebox615
Member
Originally Posted by Oceansidefish
http:///forum/post/3039387
Personally I don't think it's good advice to give someone to buy something that is going to suffer in their tank....Would you buy a cat and figure it will eat what it can catch and if it does not then oh well??? I agree with Ophiura on this one...They need 100+ gallon tank for food
Well thats your opinion. I wouldn't buy a cat so I wouldnt care if it did suffered. Everyone that I know who had a ss starfish before me, theirs is still living under 100g ,1,2 ,3, plus years. Like I said I like mine so I recommend keeping them. Every tank is different. Every SS starfish is different. My opinion is different. If mine does die I will just buy another one in my 75g. Ophiura said he doesnt recommend keeping them period ever!!!! Well I do.
http:///forum/post/3039387
Personally I don't think it's good advice to give someone to buy something that is going to suffer in their tank....Would you buy a cat and figure it will eat what it can catch and if it does not then oh well??? I agree with Ophiura on this one...They need 100+ gallon tank for food
Well thats your opinion. I wouldn't buy a cat so I wouldnt care if it did suffered. Everyone that I know who had a ss starfish before me, theirs is still living under 100g ,1,2 ,3, plus years. Like I said I like mine so I recommend keeping them. Every tank is different. Every SS starfish is different. My opinion is different. If mine does die I will just buy another one in my 75g. Ophiura said he doesnt recommend keeping them period ever!!!! Well I do.
spanko
Active Member
Originally Posted by cablebox615
http:///forum/post/3039404
Well thats your opinion. I wouldn't buy a cat so I wouldnt care if it did suffered. Everyone that I know who had a ss starfish before me, theirs is still living under 100g ,1,2 ,3, plus years. Like I said I like mine so I recommend keeping them. Every tank is different. Every SS starfish is different. My opinion is different. If mine does die I will just buy another one in my 75g. Ophiura said he doesnt recommend keeping them period ever!!!! Well I do.
You my friend have a very pompous attitude. You evidently do not know Ophiura's background, knowledge and how helpful SHE is to everyone on this board.
You did not even take the time to read her post to see that her name is Susan.
You did not even understand her post to see that the sand sifting star, while it will die, will also devour the beneficial flora and fauna in your sandbed.
You cannot even see past your own desire to "OWN" one of these creatures to see that she answered the question about supplemental feeding and how they do not take to it.
M
mr.reef
Guest
now now this is a helpful board there no need to be a (- nancy).... lol
hiredgun18
New Member
I,unfortunately,did my homework AFTER buying my SS. I only have it in a 55 and i'll prob be taking him back to the lfs to trade for something else here soon.
zshain012
Member
Originally Posted by hiredgun18
http:///forum/post/3039631
I,unfortunately,did my homework AFTER buying my SS. I only have it in a 55 and i'll prob be taking him back to the lfs to trade for something else here soon.
you can always get another type of star. brittle stars are sweet.
http:///forum/post/3039631
I,unfortunately,did my homework AFTER buying my SS. I only have it in a 55 and i'll prob be taking him back to the lfs to trade for something else here soon.
cablebox615
Member
Well that still doesn't change my opinion. I know what a ss starfish does. I kno the good and bad. I don't need a biology lesson on a ss starfish. Yeah she answered scubaChris's question. The question was about feeding.( Her first sentence). That was all that was needed. Not a biology lesson on how its going to die. He didn't ask for all that info. He might have a large enough sand bed and tank. I don 't have a attitude. I just feel that somethings should be kept to yourself . Maybe I just read it wrong.
soulsigma
Member
Originally Posted by MR.reef
http:///forum/post/3039611
now now this is a helpful board there no need to be a (- nancy).... lol
http:///forum/post/3039611
now now this is a helpful board there no need to be a (- nancy).... lol
fanker
Active Member
i agree with cable box everyone has there own opinion. if u want one get one. but if u want a tang in ur tank thats a different story they need to swim, but other stuff its peoples opinion, alot of people say that u cant have sps under pcs well people have done it, and cable box has had a ss star for 6 months and its doing fine. let it be he isnt having problems
natclanwy
Active Member
IMO keeping a star for six months doesn't make your experience the norm and you the expert. Ophiura is extremely knowledgeable about sea stars and I would count myself fortunate that she took the time to respond to the thread and share her knowledge and experience. You obviously believe yourself to be an expert and didn't need the extra info Ophiura provided but maybe the OP isn't as arrogant and appreciates the extra info she provided to help preserve the well being of our critters and our oceans.
As far as your attitude about whether the star lives or not I think its irresponsible to buy something that is just going to die. This hobby has already caused restrictions to be placed on the collection of animals and irresponsible and uncaring attitudes like that will cause even more restrictions to be placed on the harvest and collection of animals.
So I give you thanks now for possibly ruining the future of this wonderful hobby for the rest of us.
As far as your attitude about whether the star lives or not I think its irresponsible to buy something that is just going to die. This hobby has already caused restrictions to be placed on the collection of animals and irresponsible and uncaring attitudes like that will cause even more restrictions to be placed on the harvest and collection of animals.
So I give you thanks now for possibly ruining the future of this wonderful hobby for the rest of us.
cablebox615
Member
Im not ruining nothing you can do what you want to do. Listen or not. You dont kno if I going to one day upgrade my tank. Which I do plan to do. More sand.
goinbroke
Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/3039775
IMO keeping a star for six months doesn't make your experience the norm and you the expert. Ophiura is extremely knowledgeable about sea stars and I would count myself fortunate that she took the time to respond to the thread and share her knowledge and experience. You obviously believe yourself to be an expert and didn't need the extra info Ophiura provided but maybe the OP isn't as arrogant and appreciates the extra info she provided to help preserve the well being of our critters and our oceans.
As far as your attitude about whether the star lives or not I think its irresponsible to buy something that is just going to die. This hobby has already caused restrictions to be placed on the collection of animals and irresponsible and uncaring attitudes like that will cause even more restrictions to be placed on the harvest and collection of animals.
So I give you thanks now for possibly ruining the future of this wonderful hobby for the rest of us.
+2
http:///forum/post/3039775
IMO keeping a star for six months doesn't make your experience the norm and you the expert. Ophiura is extremely knowledgeable about sea stars and I would count myself fortunate that she took the time to respond to the thread and share her knowledge and experience. You obviously believe yourself to be an expert and didn't need the extra info Ophiura provided but maybe the OP isn't as arrogant and appreciates the extra info she provided to help preserve the well being of our critters and our oceans.
As far as your attitude about whether the star lives or not I think its irresponsible to buy something that is just going to die. This hobby has already caused restrictions to be placed on the collection of animals and irresponsible and uncaring attitudes like that will cause even more restrictions to be placed on the harvest and collection of animals.
So I give you thanks now for possibly ruining the future of this wonderful hobby for the rest of us.
+2