Sifting star or tigar tail cuc

[cotter4601]

Currently I have a sand sifting star fish and he has been in there for a few months now. I have 90 lbs of LR in my 55 reef tank. I also have a 5 gallon fuge( I'm working on a bigger one ). I do have a DSB and have been doing some reading that this type of star fish will eat all the good stuff i'm trying to keep in the DSB. I have been considering getting rid of if to replace it with a tigar tail sea cucumber. I seem to get many mixed reviews on this including from marinedepotlive.com and liveaquaria.com. Is the tigar tail posinous if it dies?

Basically, should I remove my star fish and get the cucumber?

 

[ophiuroid]

Well, your cucumber is more likely to live than the sand sifter star. The sand sifter is DETRIMENTAL to the sand bed and the cucumber is at the very least not harming it. Your cucumber is more likely to do good. The seastar most likely will starve in that size tank...not for sure, but most likely.

As for toxicity, it is not a huge concern, IMO. Obviously if it dies it is a large ammonia source. There is some possible toxicity but this is pretty low on my list, personally.

 

[cotter4601]

Ok, that's the best respose I have received on this. I'm going to see if my LFS will take the sea star on trade. I understand that regardless of what dies there will be an ammonia source. Overall the tiger tail is an ok choice?

 

[RicksReefs]

IME, any Holothuria sp. cucumber is a great choice for sandbed cleaning with almost no chance of causing any problems. toxicity is highly overated in these cukes.

 

[cotter4601]

Ok, I made the purchase yesterday on a small tiger tail. I acclimated him slowly for about 2 hours. I put him in the tank and he move to a hiding spot and hasn't really moved since. Is this normal? What should I be looking for?

 

[RicksReefs]

perfectly normal. he'll start by cleaning under the rocks, then clean the area around the rocks with his backside still under the rocks, then after a couple of weeks or so (sometimes longer), he'll be all over the sand. check tonight a couple hours after lights out and he'll likely be more active.

 

[Misled]

Mine only comes out at night.