tiggerbengal
Member
I have this starfish:
I have had him since November. Do they eat thawed cocktail shrimp, too? I've seen liquid foods that is meant for invertebrates ..... Would he enjoy that too?
sandsifter starfish
- Thread starter tiggerbengal
- Start date
jonthefb
Active Member
These guys are mostly just detritivores, meaning they will sift the sand and chow down on any kind of detritus that htey find there, im not sure if they would eat shrimp. I personally have never fed mine in my 135, and they are doing just great. The liquid foods that you have seen for inverts are probably for filter feeding inverts, such as corals and feather dusters and stuff. The star really isnt going to be able to take advantage of these guys!
good luck
jon
good luck
jon
tiggerbengal
Member
jon,
How many do you have in your tank, and how big are yours? I have only 1 and thought of adding another one, but am not sure. Isn't the rule of thumb 1 per 50 gallons? I like the chocolate chip starfish, but heard they will eat other starfish! <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />
How many do you have in your tank, and how big are yours? I have only 1 and thought of adding another one, but am not sure. Isn't the rule of thumb 1 per 50 gallons? I like the chocolate chip starfish, but heard they will eat other starfish! <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />
jonthefb
Active Member
i have a 135 and have 5 of them in there. They are all doing fin and the tank has been up for about three years now. Choc. chip stars, are not reef safe so if you are planning on keeping corals, i would pass these guys up. They also have a tendency to bulldoze your rock, meaning that they can move it and cause whole sections to collapse. I had one customer that this happened to and when the rock fell, it broke his tank and was a total friggin mess!
If you wann keep a reef try a linkia star or a fromia star, but only after your tank has been established for like a year!
good luck
jon
If you wann keep a reef try a linkia star or a fromia star, but only after your tank has been established for like a year!
good luck
jon
chrismilano
Member
Choc chips stars have been known to eat at least blue linkias
fishfreek
Active Member
I have a sandsifting star in my 45g reef, hes been in there about 3-4 months. I'm thinking of trading it back to LFS and getting a fighting conch instead to stur the sand bed. I really like him and he does a great job sturring the sand but have heard that they eat all the critters that are supposed to be bennificial to my DSB. Anyone have any further info on these guys???
twoods71, how long have you had yours? Have you noticed any adverse affects of this starfish being in your system? Anyone else?
twoods71, how long have you had yours? Have you noticed any adverse affects of this starfish being in your system? Anyone else?
tiggerbengal
Member
fishfreek,
I've heard conflicting reports about that, too. One place will say no, they don't disturb the sandbed, but another will say they do! I've had mine since November, & he just stirs the sand. But, then again, I don't have the liverock yet ..... Soooooo, I guess I will find out soon! Let me know if you find out if they do eat the critters!
I've heard conflicting reports about that, too. One place will say no, they don't disturb the sandbed, but another will say they do! I've had mine since November, & he just stirs the sand. But, then again, I don't have the liverock yet ..... Soooooo, I guess I will find out soon! Let me know if you find out if they do eat the critters!
twoods71
Active Member
Although I cant be 100% sure but I do think they eat some of the critters in the sand bed. I dont over feed my tank so little if any food ever reaches the bottom. I have had this guy for around 4 months now and he still looks as good as the day I got him. So he is eating something and odds are its sand bed critters.
Most critters found in a sand bed multiply at a pretty good rate however so I dont think there is a major problem with keeping the sandsifting star.
I like the 1 per 50 gallon rule stated above. That sounds like it would make for a good balance between predator and pray.
Most critters found in a sand bed multiply at a pretty good rate however so I dont think there is a major problem with keeping the sandsifting star.
I like the 1 per 50 gallon rule stated above. That sounds like it would make for a good balance between predator and pray.
iswimwithmyfish
Member
I was thinking about getting a sand sifting starfish too, but i don't know if they're reef safe. does anyone know if they are? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />