Sand sifting star?

[MizTanks]

Looking for anyone with knowledge/experience with keeping these guys. I've done some research but found very little info on their behavior.
Questions I have are: Exactly how do they eat? Do they eat what's within the sand or only what's on top of it? Do they ever crawl amongst the rock work? Could I supplement it's food source with anything?

I watch mine daily Very cool little critter. It will curse around the sand bed for about 5 minutes and then bury itself back up. Where it will stay until lights out, then make another appearance. Is it looking for food? Is it eating? I cannot tell

[AJ :)]

We have one. It does about the same. I'm pretty sure they get their food from within the sandbed. I wont allow ours to curse. It would be a poor example for the rest of the tank mates.
At home I recently got a red thorny star and it goes everywhere. up the glass on the rocks. It does not bury itself that I have noticed.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I have never owned one... so no experience info coming in this post.

I believe they eat while buried in the substrate, and I don't think they will crawl on the rock work, other than to "get to the other side".

The reason I've never owned one is my tanks are not large enough to keep one long-term. Check out what LiveAquaria has to say... Saltwater Aquarium Starfish for Marine Reef Aquariums: Sand Sifting Sea Star

You can probably feed it, but it sounds like they have a voracious appetite.

Tom

[Poseidon]

I've tried them when I had a 135, with a DSB... I wouldn't even consider adding ONE to a tank less then 180 gallons, with a fully mature and thriving DSB including thousands of pods.

They do eat a LOT, and move a LOT, and usually starve to death in our tanks.

[MizTanks]

Thanks guys! I know how big they get and about their appetites. I actually borrowed him Wanted something to work on my SB. Stir it up safely and so far it's working. My SB is over a year old and has had nothing to disturbed it in any way in all that time. I've no plans of keeping him for longer then a month. He is so cool though!! Wish I could find something similar for my lil tank.

[MizTanks]

We have one. It does about the same. I'm pretty sure they get their food from within the sandbed. I wont allow ours to curse. It would be a poor example for the rest of the tank mates.
At home I recently got a red thorny star and it goes everywhere. up the glass on the rocks. It does not bury itself that I have noticed.

Lol I meant cruse you twit!!

[binford4000]

Mrs Binfords had one for years in her 75 until the harlequins ! Lol. They are a neat addition that does a great job on the sand bed. I would suggest a golden goby for a tank of your size for house cleaning tho. The sand shifter does need allot of food like Poseidon stated. Pretty neat you could borrow one tho!