What does a sand sifter star eat?

[rkm]

I bought on of these guys the other day and the LFS said it will eat whatever is leftover in my cc. I just wanted to know if I should try to feed it when it comes to the top of my cc. What is the life span? Thanks for any help

 

[dockery07]

I thought they only liked sand beds. I know somone who had one and it ate everything in the live sand depleated it totally. SO they will eat pods and worms everything in the sand.

 

[rkm]

Wow that does not sound very reef safe. If it depleates my cc thats not good. LFS strikes again. I guess i will keep my eyes on it. Anyone else have anything to say about this?

 

[twhfan]

I'm having a red algae problem and it's helping alot! If you want to part with yours, let me know :0) I'm thinking of ordering another one with my next SWF order.

 

[beth]

If you have a dsb, then don't get it! It will eat all infauna.

 

[plum70rt]

I have seen many posts against sand sifter stars, saying that they will deplete your pods and worms, IMO, I have 1 in my tank and im sure he eats plenty,. but cant even put a dent in the population, it has tripled since I added him, just my 2 cents

 

[rkm]

So he eats whatever is in your bed you don't directly feed him.

 

[jonthefb]

i used to direct feed mine, well not exactly. i woudl take raw shrimp and pull them apart and then bury chunks in the sand around the tank. the ones closest to hime he would dive down and snatch up right away. but alas, i eventually pulled him out cause i was worried about him demolishing my pods in my 20. on the other hand, in my 135 i have about 5 and my pod pop in the sandbed is still ridiculous.
good luck
jon

 

[plum70rt]

No, he will clean your sandbed, eat whatever he finds, if you have enough pods, worms, he will be fine, some say they can wipe out a sand bed, I say he cant keep up, but thats in my tank ,if you have a 20 gallon , I would feel differently,

 

[danrw84]

i had one....he started to disenigrate though! ran out of food
my buddy has one in his CC and has had it for 3 months , and hes still cleaning so well!

 

[bang guy]

I agree with Beth. Eventually the worm population will become extinct.

 

[buzz]

I am with plum70rt on this one. I have a sand star in my 29g, and my pods and worms have been thriving. I also have a leopard wrasse that eats pods too, and the population is doing very well.
I also did NOT have worms when I got the star, but now I do...so they have been thriving as well.
I have more pods (copepods and amphipods alike) now than before the star.
I was skeptical at first in getting the star, because I heard from everyone that they will deplete your sandbed. I am just not finding that to be true in my case.

 

[ophiura]

Just a warning, these guys tend to starve in smaller tanks. After about 8+ months, they start dropping legs and disintegrating. I would only recommend 1 in any size tank, unless it is 500+g. No use in pushing a good thing too far.

 

[buzz]

I add a little extra flake food, and stuff for it to eat on the bed too, but mine is moving over to my 60g as soon as it is cycled and stable. My fiancee wants a freshwater tank, and I told her she could use the 29g after I empty it...so everything in the 29g is going with the star to a bigger home with better lighting...