I have a sand sifting in my 40 breeder. It been loving life for 2 years now. It could work for you but make sure you have plenty to eat for it. If it starves in the sand bed you are in trouble.
If u have small inverts don't get sand star they have been known to eat them. I can't remember the name of them but those small red ones are good harmless. Serpents hide alot