Experiences with sand sifting sea stars

[oldpaddy]

Hi all, from what I can find on the net most people believe they're bad for our systems. Either because they'll eat everything in the substrate and then die, or because they'll destroy a deep sand bed by eating everything, stirring it up and releases toxic gases, and then they starve to death.

That's the apparent consensus. Nevermind the rumors, what are your experiences with them?


Personally I've had two in my 220g (+30g in the sump) mixed reef for at least a year with zero problems. In fact I love them! They're excellent for stirring up the substrate.
My substrate is about 2-3" deep. I just took one out yesterday and moved him to my dsb in my sump. We'll see how that plays out.

 

[Blacktank]

I have had one in my tank for about 5 months. I love him. With all the other sand sifters out there, the star fish seem to be less intrusive than say diamond watchman gobies and especially dragon wrases. I believe he keeps my tank cleaner and with a better life cycle. Just my 2 cents.

 

[oldpaddy]

I have had one in my tank for about 5 months. I love him. With all the other sand sifters out there, the star fish seem to be less intrusive than say diamond watchman gobies and especially dragon wrases. I believe he keeps my tank cleaner and with a better life cycle. Just my 2 cents.

I agree. They're excellent at cleaning the substrate. I'm not really sure why they get a bad rap. I wonder how many people are just regurgitating what they've read and not what they've seen. Unfortunately I think there's a lot of that in this hobby.

 

[nitro316]

I agree. They're excellent at cleaning the substrate. I'm not really sure why they get a bad rap. I wonder how many people are just regurgitating what they've read and not what they've seen. Unfortunately I think there's a lot of that in this hobby.

I think a big part is that unless the sand bed is sufficiently big to sustain the life of the sea star, it will die in the sandbed and throw stuff out of whack.

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

Sand sifting stars are one of the most productive sand sifters found in the hobby. Unfortunately, they don't always do the greatest in captivity due to the limited sand bed. If they can be provided a large enough area, they are able to thrive in a reef tank!

In general, I usually would reccomended at least a 3" sand bed in at least a 90g tank that'a been up for more than 4 months