when was the last time you saw your starfish?

[Graham_f]

I have a sand sifting starfish and it always hung out right at the top, I could always see at least one leg

now he seems to have vanished.
i have no predators... unless my open brain or clownfish has a taste for starfish?

Does your starfish also hide for weeks at a time?

[jorjef]

I have a Banded Brittlestar that never comes out into the light..... Ever! I know where he lives and get glimpses of a leg or two with a flash light just to make sure he's still alive.

[DSlater]

We have a sand sifting starfish that will spend a few evenings out and then disappear for up to a month.
Usually when we think he's gone he appears again...

[NorthernCoral]

Unless your sandbed has enough organisms to sustain the appetite of your starfish it is certain to perish eventually. They will go unseen for decent amounts of time in healthy environment aswell so that may also be the case. However they do need a fairly large amount of sand to comb through and most home reef setups are not capable of keeping sandsifters for any lengthy amount of time. I had 1 in my matured 120 for a little over a year before he disappeared for good.

[Slyguy00]

Last time I saw mine was right before I got rid of it lil bastard mowed over my corals constantly that were in the sand.

[Graham_f]

Originally Posted by NorthernCoral

Unless your sandbed has enough organisms to sustain the appetite of your starfish it is certain to perish eventually. They will go unseen for decent amounts of time in healthy environment aswell so that may also be the case. However they do need a fairly large amount of sand to comb through and most home reef setups are not capable of keeping sandsifters for any lengthy amount of time. I had 1 in my matured 120 for a little over a year before he disappeared for good.

interesting, i didn't know they require such a large amount of sand. I've had him for about 6 months and it was doing well. a damaged limb had almost completely grown back so i assume that means it was healthy. Lots of life in my sand, but its only a 55g.

oh well, i'll just assume its alive and continue with my life

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I see mine all the time. Sometimes it climbs up the glass as well. Usually it just cruises around on the sand bed. It has a 6' x 2' area to sample and the tank is well established.

[Magickiwi]

I have two sand sifting starfish and they both disappear for a week or two then are seen at the surface or climbing on something and then disappear again for awhile. Both are at the max size for the species and one has grown a limb back after something took one off.

It's not an animal you buy for displaying in your tank for sure.

[CM125]

Last time I saw mine he was missing a leg.... stupid carpet anemone...

[pinkreef]

I have a chocolate chip and a purple bubble tip brittle star.
The choc chip i see all the time but the brittle star (18" across) i don't see more than the ends of his legs usually. sometimes he comes out onto the glass and is a sight to see!