Sand sifting star climbing the walls!

[bottomdweller]

Can someone give me an idea why my sand sifting star has begun climbing my tank walls? Water parameters are all right on the money, any ideas? Thanks

[Dmorty217]

Wouldn't worry about it too much, has it done this for extended periods or has it just started? How big is the tank? How long has it been setup? What are the other tankmates?

[Squidmotron]

They do it sometimes. Worry not.

[Bpb]

Mine also did that alot. A note about sand sifters. While they may be slow moving, they can clean a sandbed of all life in a matter of months. I had one in a 55 gallon with a deep sandbed and in 6 months it ate all the life in the sand, and started starving. When they starve, they literally will start disintegrating. One by one their arms will literally just disappear and dissolve into the water. Had to rehome mine into a much larger tank

[bottomdweller]

Its a 75 gallon set up for 3 months with a tang and 2 clowns, hermits, snails, its just started this!

[bottomdweller]

will they eat any food? it just seems to move right over shrimp when they are in its path?

[Joe0813]

Your tank is no way near ready for a star fish

[Cymonous]

Mine did the same thing. It would climb to the top and then just drop like a skydiver. Unfortunately, I lost mine from after a move.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sand sifting stars are best left in the wild. They need very large, well established tanks to have any shot at long term survival. In smaller tanks, they eat all the microfauna in the sand bed then slowly starve to death.

[cedwards04]

glad i stumbled upon this thread. i probably would have purchased one once i finally get my tank set up. would hate for it to starve to death.

[gsiegel]

Hijacking the post - I have 2 in a 280 gallon tank that are doing well. I had brown algae and was recommended to add these to help. Is there something to do to help prolong their life in captivity - anything to add to the tank to feed these guys?

I also have a blue star which is much larger that has disappeared under the sand for the past few days. Is this common? Concern?

[Dmorty217]

Your tanks is way too small and isn't nearly established enough to support a sand sifting star. They recommend 1 for a 220g aquarium