Sandsifting starfish

[cato]

I have 2 sandsifting starfish about 5 inches across each. I know my tank is too small for them. My LFS recommended 2 of them for my tank to stir up my sand bed, which they do very well.

Question is...are they consumong all the benificial organisms in my sand bed and what should I do?

 

[reefD]

they do sift for organisms to eat along with algea's. i have heard people say they do go against the entire idea of a deep sand bed benefits.

 

[AllenFord_SC]

They will eventually drain your sandbed of all of it's "life" then eventually just starve to death. Plus with them eating all of the life out of your sand the sandbed is not fulfilling its puporse.

 

[cato]

Should I find them a new home ya think??

 

[AllenFord_SC]

That is your call. I don't really like to "tell" people what to do with there tanks. If it was mine, then yes i would trade them and get some Serpent stars. Try to stay away from Linkias as they are harder to keep.

 

[Salamander]

Two of them in a 54g tank will likely starve fast. Sad thing is you can't really tell and they hang on for a while, just fading away....

 

[cato]

Thanks guys, I'm gonna look into trading them in at my LFS. Appreciate all the advice.