If you are looking for a clean up crew that is both interesting and efficient, then you need look no further than a few sand sifting starfish. These enterprising little creatures may not be the prettiest in the bunch, but man! do they get the job done.
Astropecten polycanthus are generally a brown or tan color and sometimes can be found with black stripes across the five legs. The starfish use these lets to burrow into the sand and even to help digest their food. This burrowing is what makes these creatures so handy in a salt water aquarium. They stir up the sand which helps get waste up to the filters. The starfish also assist in the expulsion of waste as they often eat detritus and left over food that has settled in the sand.
Sand sifting starfish are extremely easy to keep in an aquarium and aren’t expensive at all. While they are normally found in Fiji and Tonga you can find these puppies all over the globe. Though these fish are generally easy to keep, you should be aware that there are a few things that these sea stars absolutely cannot tolerate.
You should never, ever put sand sifting starfish in with puffers, as that isn’t exactly a happy relationship. You should also be aware that this breed of starfish cannot tolerate any kind of changes in oxygen, salinity, or pH levels inside a tank. It is also very important to remember that under no circumstances should these guys be exposed to dry air. They should be in water at all times.
Have you had a memorable experience with sand shifting starfish? Is there any great wisdom about the species that you’d like to share with the blogosphere? Well, if so, post a comment and let us all know!!