Sandsifting Stars

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009.

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  1. Hevgotdat4u

    Hevgotdat4u Fire Worm

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
    Messages:
    173
    Location:
    New Haven, CT.
    I have two sand sifting stars in my 125 with a 2" sand bed was wondering should i have more than two and the two I have have been in tank since 01/09 and I just noticed today one has four arms and one has five why?
     
    Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009
    Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009
    #1

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  2. shipbear

    shipbear Bubble Tip Anemone

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2008
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    650
    Location:
    Mobile, Alabama
    IMHO, you need more of a sand bed.. 2 Sand Stars in a 125 is enough, maybe more then enough.
    A missing arm is a BAD sign.. It means they're not getting enough to eat..
    Your sandbed wouldn't support one, let along two...

    Can you feed them bits of shrimp, or something..??
    They can clean a sandbed out fast, then starve.. And a missing arm is a sign of that..

    Good Luck, Larry

    They can turn live sand, into dead sand, then nothing else to eat..
    This is what I found out, AFTER I bought mine..
    Mine had part of an arm missing when I bought it, the guy said... Don't worry it'll grow back.. Then I done Alot of research..


    .
     
    shipbear, Jul 5, 2009
    shipbear, Jul 5, 2009
    #2
  3. the fisherman

    the fisherman Vlamingii Tang

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
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    Location:
    new jersey
    they are nice to watch move around in the tank, but I believe that they should be left in the ocean where they belong. I had one in my 75 and it did not live long JMT
     
    the fisherman, Jul 5, 2009
    the fisherman, Jul 5, 2009
    #3
  4. Hevgotdat4u

    Hevgotdat4u Fire Worm

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
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    173
    Location:
    New Haven, CT.
    It's not missing a arm will try to get a photo this things only has and only had 4 arms.
     
    Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009
    Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009
    #4
  5. greysoul

    greysoul Stylophora

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2009
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    975
    Location:
    Albuquerque
    I've seen them at the LFS with 4 and 5 arms and seen pics with them up to 8 arms. 5 is most common.

    I got one about a month ago on the suggestion of a LFS employee.... doesn't do anything but kill my sand as far as I've seen. I'm gonna take it back next time I think about it.

    Mine doesn't offer any "entertainment" as it's always in the sand, and when it does come out from time to time it's at night and buries itself before i see it. Sometimes I see a leg sticking out and sometimes I do see it out of the sand...but it just sinks back down for a while.

    -Doug
     
    greysoul, Jul 5, 2009
    greysoul, Jul 5, 2009
    #5
  6. the fisherman

    the fisherman Vlamingii Tang

    Joined:
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    Location:
    new jersey
    mine always came out it would climb on the front glass and everywhere else. It move very fast to be a sand sifting star
     
    the fisherman, Jul 5, 2009
    the fisherman, Jul 5, 2009
    #6

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  7. Hevgotdat4u

    Hevgotdat4u Fire Worm

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
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    Location:
    New Haven, CT.
    What do you guys mean when you say they killed your sand please explain
     
    Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009
    Hevgotdat4u, Jul 5, 2009
    #7
  8. madlarkin

    madlarkin Peppermint Shrimp

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Messages:
    448
    Location:
    Saratoga Springs, NY
    Sand sifting stars are very efficient predators of the beneficial creatures that will take up residence in your sand bed.
     
    madlarkin, Jul 5, 2009
    madlarkin, Jul 5, 2009
    #8
  9. airtruck

    airtruck Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2008
    Messages:
    66
    just put 2 small ones in my tank watched them scurry off turned around and they are gone? will i ever see them again?
     
    airtruck, Jul 5, 2009
    airtruck, Jul 5, 2009
    #9
  10. shipbear

    shipbear Bubble Tip Anemone

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2008
    Messages:
    650
    Location:
    Mobile, Alabama
    LOL, maybe not..
    I bought a good sized one 5 or 6 months ago... Put him in my tank..
    He went under the sand.. And have yet to see it..??

    I mean I never see it..??

    Larry
     
    shipbear, Jul 5, 2009
    shipbear, Jul 5, 2009
    #10
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