Sand shifting Starfish?

[steallife904]

I was going this afternoon to pick up a sand shifting starfish for my tank I setup going on 2 months. I had one in my previous tank for about 2 years and I gave him away awhile back. New tank is 150 gal, 5ft long, 1.5 in sandbed.

I was reading on them to figure out if I could get 2..... then I started seeing all the post about how bad they are and that they will not eat detritus and leftover food, they actually eat pods and other good stuff out of the tank. I wanted them to stir up the bed and eat leftover food..... should I get one or not? Help with your opinion please. thank you,

 

[cloak]

Couldn't you just feed less & stir up the sand bed yourself? I think the general consensus with these things is to leave them in the ocean. I'm sure there are some success stories out there, but the horror stories far outweigh these IMO. GL.

 

[thegrun]

I would advise getting 5 or 6 nassarius snails and leave the starfish in the ocean.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Nassarius snails, cerith snails and fighting conchs will stir up the sand bed.

 

[steallife904]

I have a conch and 8 nassarius in there already, I actually like the sand stars which was part of the reason I was going for one. If they are trouble and by that meaning they will eat pods and other good stuff I will leave out

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yes, all they eat is the microfauna in the sand.

 

[Bent]

How many fighting conchs you guys have? I've got 2 in my 55 and thinking about buying more. They are small.

 

[RayAllen3422]

Nassiruis snails did an amazing job for me. Plus they are cool to watch. Like a snail snorkeling under the sand.

 

[snorvich]

I would advise getting 5 or 6 nassarius snails and leave the starfish in the ocean.

Exactly. The starfish will eat beneficial micro organisms and then starve to death. Not a good idea.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Nassiruis snails did an amazing job for me. Plus they are cool to watch. Like a snail snorkeling under the sand.

I think they look like Zombies when they pop out of the sandbed when you feed the tank :beer:

 

[RayAllen3422]

I think they look like Zombies when they pop out of the sandbed when you feed the tank :beer:

Hahaha. Yes they do. Those snails may have been the cheapest thing that I put in my tank that people always loved to see.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You're right about that. I have several of the small ones and two of the Tonga Nassarius and they are HUGE compared to the little guys.