"mild" sand sifters

[patchesj]

I know this is probably an over discussed topic.. I have a 54g corner tank. I have 2 brittle stars, a dozen sand bed clams, a bunch of spaghetti worms, a pinky cucumber, hermit crabs, etc. I need a bit more to keep the sand bed clean. The stars and cucumbers seem to hang out in there favorite spots and not move around. I purchased a few "nassarius" snails from the LFS that ended up being whelks, so I'm not too interested in trying those out again... Should I get another cucumber? I had an orage spot/diamond goby years ago in my 120, but this is a much smaller tank and I am concerned about depleting the sand bed. Should I try and find a reputable source for nassarius snails (ones that won't gang up and devour my other snails like a wolf pack....), or go ahead and get a goby? My daughter would really like another fish in the tank (we only have a scopas tang), but the sand bed is really doing well with a diverse group of inhabitants and I would hate to turn them all into food.

:deadhorse1:??

 

[small alien]

I think you should back up a little and give us some more info.

How big is the tank and how long has it been set up. What's your flow and lighting? What problem are you trying to solve?

In general, this question involves someone trying to solve a husbandry issue with an animal which is not usually a good plan long term.

 

[Dmorty217]

If you get another cucumber you will already be overcrowding them in your size tank. They say 1" of cucumber for every 25g is recommended. You could always get a shrimp goby or another less destructive sand bed sifter other than the diamond goby. Conchs are also good for sand beds. I just put 4 in my 220g with a 6" sand bed

 

[small alien]

I'm guessing if the cucumber is pink, it's a suspension feeder, not a detritus feeder. Unfortunately, that means it will almost surely perish after it starves over a period of a year or more. This from experience.

Again, most people think they need a sand sifter when it's a husbandry or LSS issue. Tell us about your tank so we can help.

 

[small alien]

Also have had a tiger tail cucumber starve over a similar period. Some cnidarians and echinoderms can "degrow" under conditions of food deprivation rather than just up and die like we would. They can consume their own tissue for a long time which leads some aquarists to think they are succeeding with the animals when they're not. I've seen it most with anemones, cucumbers and their close relatives, the sea apples.

 

[accordsirh22]

diamond goby, got one in my 40 and he has been doing great. they almost always will eat prepared foods right out of the gate anyways

 

[small alien]

Many sand sifting gobies die in larger tanks than that. accordsirh22, how long has yours been "doing great?" What is your sample set for making the statement "they almost always will eat prepared foods right out of the gate?" I'm not saying you won't succeed or that you don't have insight to offer. But what you're saying conflicts with what I've seen and most of the reports I've read. And your off-hand tone and lack of adherence to rules of capitalization and punctuation don't inspire confidence.

 

[small alien]

As far as a "mild sandsifter", Hector's and Rainsford's gobies would be the two that comed to my mind. I've had both and they both ate prawn roe, cyclopeeze and mysis with vigor. But they won't rid a sandbed of cyano or anything like some people might think/hope. Mostly it's just cool to watch.

Hopefully, the OP will chime in with more about their set-up and goals.

Cheers.

 

[Scridifer]

IME the Istigobius genus could be classed as 'mild sand-sifters'.

My ornate goby (I. ornatus) sifts sand but never leaves the sandbed whilst doing so like most sleeper gobies do so doesn't drop the sand allover corals etc.

Chris