Do you need to feed starfish?

[Markerum]

I have inherited a star fish. Do I need to fed this guy and if so what? He crawls up the glass is that normal? Is he searching for food? Any advice for this creature would be appreciated.

[Andrew]

Starfish will eat what floats to the bottom and what the fish don't eat. What kind of star do you have?

[Markerum]

Sand sifting star is our guy

[kuoka]

I have a brittle star and I don't feed it at all. It grabs whatever is left over and gets an occasional dead fish.

[jer77]

What size tank do you have Markerum? Sand sifters usually out grow their tanks because of their need for a constant supply of micro-life. They will eat all of your pods and then most likely starve if it cannot survive on feedings alone. But larger tanks like 120+ with an established refugium can support the needs of such an animal. I've had a couple die this way. They can eat other stuff like small meaty frozen and dried foods.

[drummereef]

I agree, what's the tank size and substrate type?

[sam1174]

It depends on the starfish. I feed my green brittle star every day or three. It will eat an entire silverside. I also have a general starfish that will eat silversides. I have to wait until he is on the glass and lift up one of his arms and slide the fish under him. He loves them. He killed and ate my tuxedo urchin, that's how I discovered he needed to be fed. I tried simply leaving a silverside on the sand next to him, but he moved so slowly the snails always got to the fish first.

[sam1174]

Oh... I just read that it's a sand sifting star. You're screwed...

[Markerum]

I have a 60gal deep sand bed tank with a 30gal deep sand bed with live rocks & light established refugium. So is everyone suggesting we take the sand sifter back to the store? If so, what should we get in his place? We already have several Nassarius snails and Tongan Fighting Conchs living in the sand bed.

[UntamedBreez]

Id trade him for a brittle or urchin