sandsifter starfish

[mousehunter22]

Does anyone know the life span of one of these fellers as mine is a couple of years old now and its started to act odd?

I hardly ever used to see it but now its always stuck to the side glass is because he's ran out of food in the sand? or could it be that the sand is too shallow for him? Should i move him into the sump as there is slightly more sand in with the cheato?

[MR Teee]

Start putting some meaty food in the sand for him Lee. A prawn or lance fish or cockle, just before lights out. He'll hunt it out during the night. Check in the morning to see if it has or not.

If he has left it, take it out and try anopther bit the next day.

Chances are he has ran out of food from the sand, like you said.

[mousehunter22]

Ive shifted him into the sump seein as thats where most of the food thats not eaten ends up!!!

Il see in the morning how well he's doin as at the mo he's buried himself ive got about 2" of sand in the first section where the cheato is, so maybe the slightly deeper sand may make the difference:D

[slinkyslink]

When i first put my sandsifter into my tank I wouldn't see him for days then he would appear go up the glass for a day then bury himself again, but just lately he's been moving around on the surface and not burying himself so would this indicate that there is alot of food on the surface of the sand? is this a good or bad thing?

[Macca]

Sand sifters strip the fauna from the bed, although we sell them we do not recommend. Best getting a conch IMHO.

If you see the star it could well be an indication that pods are in few supply.

Never really knew why LFS recommend sand sifters. To sift sand? This could be a bad thing! Best will a cowrie only sifts the top layer and is a herbrivore so does not eat all the food fauna in your bed :p

James

[mousehunter22]

He's only surfaced since moving him to the big tank, in my old tank i had quite a deep sand bed about two and a half inchs and i never realy saw him!!
Now he is never in the sand ive even moved him into the sump where all the uneaten food ends up and still he remains stuck to the glass!!

Ive tried burying some mysis under the sand and some lance fish but still no good:(

[Macca]

Is the grain size the same for both sand beds?

James