Starfish

[olsenshouse]

I have a bristle star already and would like to get a sand sifter. Would there be any issues having them together?

Thanks for the help,

Bry

 

[Chichas01]

The 2 will get along, but the issue with the sand sifter is whether or not your system will sustain one. Sand sifters eat all the beneficial critters in your sand bed and once they are gone, they slowly starve to death leaving you with a dead starfish and a decimated sand bed. So, on that note, tell us about your system. Size? Sand bed depth?

 

[returnofsid]

Sandsifting Starfish almost always die, in our tanks, quite quickly. But before they die, they turn your sand bed into a sterile environment, eating everything beneficial, from the sand bed. Then they die of starvation.

 

[olsenshouse]

I have a 55 gallon tank with about 2 inches of sand. Thanks for the help.

 

[DonW]

My last one lived for over two years before the last tank was broken down. Personally I liked the fact that he ate everything in the sand bed. Shallow sand beds are just for looks anyways and need to be kept pretty much sterile. DSB's are a different story and I probably wouldnt have one with a DSB.

Don

 

[TJL]

I concur with Don on this, with a substrate of 2-3" or less especially if not using Sugar Sand the cleaner the better and is why so many reefkeepers utilize sand sifting starfish and snails to begin with.

Todd

 

[olsenshouse]

Did you feed the sand sifters anything special?

 

[bigblue141]

I've had my sand sifter star for a little over two years now. S/He made the move from the 65 to the 120 last year. I like the fact he keeps my sand bed stirred up.

I don't think he's eating ALL the benifical stuff out of my sand bed as I have tons of burrowing worms and lots of other stuff in there I have no idea what it is.

 

[DonW]

Did you feed the sand sifters anything special?

No BUT you do need floor space. Dont stick one in a tank full of live rock and expect it to survive. I'm more fond onf really open rock scapes, lots of sandy open areas.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Ditto on what Don and Todd said. Mine lasted 2-3 years in my oolithic sand bottom 180g.
What finally killed it was my hungry harlequin shrimp digging it up.

 

[jag3534]

If you're looking for a sand sifting creature, barrier gets some really cool sand sifting snails in. They're awesome! We had 2 when we had a 55g, and they burrow around through the sand with just their antenae sticking out. When you feed the tank, they suddenly emerge to eat, its crazy looking!

 

[pblutang]

I think those sand sift snails are nasaurius (spelling). I have 1 in my 55 gallon tank and he keeps his area nice a clean. They come out at night. Kinda cool looking.

 

[jag3534]

I think those sand sift snails are nasaurius (spelling). I have 1 in my 55 gallon tank and he keeps his area nice a clean. They come out at night. Kinda cool looking.

I think so too, I was thinking 'tongan nassarius' but wasn't positive.