what is wrong with my starfish

[Letmegrow]

I do not have time to look it up but alot of micro stars have been found in the gut.

 

[Reeferhead]

Were these captive sand sifting stars or wild caught?

 

[StephNewman]

can always add new live sand to keep them from starving if that is a concern

 

[StephNewman]

do they possibly eat left over bring shrimp and blood worms that are feed to my fish?

 

[Drunes]

I have had a great deal of success with my stars but I do a few things different. One I use TBS sand in the tank, sump and refuge. Rarely have I ever lost one I do keep them out of the sump and refuge and I suspect those areas feed the tank since they are left undisturbed by preditation. I also notice that the large carpet I had did very well in this type of setup.

My only logical conclusion was the other areas were feeding the main tank. This setup also produces huge numbers of pods and some as big as 3cm as well as numerous brittles.

I would not recommend stars in anything but a well established tank, they are opprotunistic feeders and typically I hold to the belief that often they can not compete for food except in heavily fed tanks.

 

[StephNewman]

what is TBS stand for? I have about a 3 to 4 inch sand bed in front half of tank and decreases as it goes to the back of the tank. That way the star has plenty of sand in the front but can't go under the rock work in the back. I usually end up feeding too much to my fish so there is food left on the sandbed for the star and other inverts to eat.

 

[TWINPEAKS]

One thing that was not mentioned that I was told is to never expose them to air,weather its true or not I don't know.

 

[Drunes]

TBS = Tampa Bay Saltwater they sell aquacultured rock from the Keys and Gulf of Mexico. I typically buy my live rock system from them I have had great success with it in the past.

 

[Drunes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9604019#post9604019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TWINPEAKS
One thing that was not mentioned that I was told is to never expose them to air,weather its true or not I don't know.

I have heard the same thing as well I have read it in several books I have on inverts. Personally I try to keep invertts from being expose to air regardless.

 

[Reeferhead]

I no longer have the SSS. It most likely starved. The Linkia is still alive but by no means growing.