Sand Sifter Starfish
The sand sifter starfish can get up to 12 inches wide however generally stay smaller than that.
Sand sifter starfish. The sand sifting starfish will consume small invertebrates including shrimp urchins mollusks bivalves and other sea stars. Sand sifting sea stars astropecten polycanthus feed on small organisms like worms copepods amphipods and other small crustaceans found living within the sand bed of an established aquarium. It should be actively fed a varied diet of natural food sources especially in well established marine aquariums.
It is extremely important that aquariums housing sand sifting sea stars have a deep sand bed of 3 inches or more and be well established. Buy sand sifting starfish from tsm corals. They do come out during the daytime from time to time and can often be seen once the lights go out including on the glass.
When you buy them they are usually around 4 inches in diameter and grow quite slowly when in an aquarium setting. Shop saltwater fish and aquarium supplies at tsm corals in sewell nj and get the best price and selection on sand sifting starfish. The sand sifting sea star is found in the south east atlantic indo pacific region growing up to 12cm in length.
Chances are you will not see this starfish often as it will burrow into the sand to hide or search for food. Found buried during the day in silty seabeds crawling over sandy bottoms at night foraging. An important team member of any clean up crew the sand sifting starfish will sift through the sand bed eating detritus and leftover scraps of food.
Sand sifting starfish are a great way to help manage the algae and substrate in your tank.
