Sand sifter

[cav~firez22]

I have 2 sand sifters, and 2 gobies. I like the sand sifters, they keep the sand bed moving which is nice

[michika]

I have to say I recommed both sand sifting stars and strawberry or lipstick conches. I have some of both in my 230 and they do a wonderful job of keeping my sand white, turned over, and fresh looking. It saves me having to cleam the sand myself or change it once and awhile.

[1bigstud]

Originally Posted by krisalexander

1bigstud, I would definately recomend the twin spotted goby...They are fun to watch and sweet looking and watching them open their mouths and eat the sand then it filters the sand through its gills...

Kris

After seeing the pic of you r fish I may just have to get some as well. Do these fish eat food other than whats in the sand bed???

[krisalexander]

I have heard stories of ppl getting them them to eat brine, or mysid, mine dont yet....I am going to try with some live brine shrimp, and then use a turkey baster and put some near it and maybe it will go for it??
(they are very similar to mandarins)
Let me know what you decide...
Kris

[deep_six]

I just added a sand sifting star about a week ago. So far it is doing a good job.Though I've only seen it a couple of times, I'm pretty happy with it.

[Doug]

If sleeper gobies have a problem eating, try placing a pellet food like Hakarii, in various places in the sand. It sometimes gets them eating prepared foods. Once started they eat anything. Mine were pigs.

Its doubtful that any of our sandbeds can sustain sifters of any type for long periods, unless replaced by more live sand. They will deplete it in no time. The sand sifting stars seem to be the worse, as they eat nothing else. They will eat all the fauna in the sandbed and then slowly perish, or at least thats what the "experts" say in their writings.

Most of them, {the ones that write all the sandbed articles}, are against the use of sand sifting animals, because of the depletion of the critters in the bed, that are required to keep it a "live sandbed".

just thought I would add this post for whatever its worth.

I always liked my sleeper gobies, back when I had a dsb.