Archaster typicus (Sand Sifting Sea Star)
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Archaster typicus (Sand Sifting Sea Star)
Source liveaquaria.com
QUICK STATS
The Sand Sifting Sea Star, at first glance, seems to be drably colored like most bottom dwellers. But closer inspection reveals a striking beauty and serenity to the alternating bands of brown and beige that dress this invertebrate's thick, spine-covered arms. Like other starfish, Astropecten polycanthus efficiently consumes mass amounts of detritus and uneaten foods. This nocturnally active member of the Astropectinidae family can move large amounts of sand as it burrows into the substrate in its search for food.
This peaceful omnivore will effectively clean even the largest home aquarium of detritus and left over food. Like other starfish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star will also consume small invertebrates, including shrimp, urchins, mollusks, bivalves, or other small sea stars. As such, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be actively fed a varied diet consisting of natural food sources, especially in well-established marine aquariums. Otherwise, this voracious feeder will quickly clean your aquarium of detritus and then burrow into your substrate, starve, and eventually begin to decay.
To foster its feeding habits, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be kept in aquariums with large, deep sand bottoms of several inches in depth. Since it is slower moving than most fish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should not be housed with natural predators, including Puffers.
Like other invertebrates, the Sand Sifting Sea Star is very intolerant of sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity, and pH and cannot tolerate copper-based medications. To successfully acclimate new specimens to your aquarium, use the drip acclimation method and never expose the Sand Sifting Sea Star to air while handling.
Breeding in the home aquarium is extremely difficult with no distinguishing characteristics to help differentiate between males and females.
QUICK STATS
- Care Level: Easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Reef Compatible: Yes
- Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
- Max. Size:
- Color Form: Tan
- Diet: Carnivore, Omnivore
- Origin: Fiji, Solomon Islands
- Family: Astropectinidae
- Insert Date: 11 June 2010
The Sand Sifting Sea Star, at first glance, seems to be drably colored like most bottom dwellers. But closer inspection reveals a striking beauty and serenity to the alternating bands of brown and beige that dress this invertebrate's thick, spine-covered arms. Like other starfish, Astropecten polycanthus efficiently consumes mass amounts of detritus and uneaten foods. This nocturnally active member of the Astropectinidae family can move large amounts of sand as it burrows into the substrate in its search for food.
This peaceful omnivore will effectively clean even the largest home aquarium of detritus and left over food. Like other starfish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star will also consume small invertebrates, including shrimp, urchins, mollusks, bivalves, or other small sea stars. As such, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be actively fed a varied diet consisting of natural food sources, especially in well-established marine aquariums. Otherwise, this voracious feeder will quickly clean your aquarium of detritus and then burrow into your substrate, starve, and eventually begin to decay.
To foster its feeding habits, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be kept in aquariums with large, deep sand bottoms of several inches in depth. Since it is slower moving than most fish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should not be housed with natural predators, including Puffers.
Like other invertebrates, the Sand Sifting Sea Star is very intolerant of sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity, and pH and cannot tolerate copper-based medications. To successfully acclimate new specimens to your aquarium, use the drip acclimation method and never expose the Sand Sifting Sea Star to air while handling.
Breeding in the home aquarium is extremely difficult with no distinguishing characteristics to help differentiate between males and females.
Last edited by thierry on Sat May 07, 2011 11:40 am; edited 3 times in total
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
Ordered
We ordered an Urchin at Romberg, the store where we buy most of our aquarium stuff. We hope to get a call soon.
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
We got one
Friday I got a call that they had some Seastars. I already saw they got them on Thursday though, so I was already expecting the call
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
First Pictures
Here the first pictures of the new Sea Star we got last Friday.
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
Back from vacation
Also since 3 months we have a new Sand Sifting Sea Star, our first one died probably because of the bacterial infection so after the rebuild and after controlling the second plague we decided to get a new one, and he is still with us and doing great.
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
Looking bad
The Sea star is looking bad, it lost couple of arms and looks like he is getting smaller!
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
Still getting smaller, someone eating him?
The Star Fish is still getting smaller, now my wife said she saw the Blue Tang nible on the Star Fish. Maybe it's hunger with the fish and not the sea star?
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
Name change
Found out it was the Archaster typicus instead of the Astropecten polycanthus
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
Gone
Haven't seen him anymore, consider him dead
thierry- Posts : 2238
Join date : 2009-08-18
Age : 42
Location : Zoetermeer
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