More info
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Color Shape: Brown, Beige
Diet: Omnivorous
Reef compatible: yes
Water Conditions: 22-26 °C, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, den 1.023-1.025
Max size: 30cm
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Asteroidea
Supplements: Trace Elements
The Sand-Turning Starfish, at first glance, appears to have a dull color like most of the bottom inhabitants. But closer inspection reveals a striking beauty and serenity in the alternating bands of brown and beige that dress this invertebrate's thick, spine-covered arms. Like other starfish, Archaster typicus efficiently consume large amounts of detritus and uneaten food. This active nocturnal member of the Asteroidea family can move large amounts of sand while burrowing into the substrate in search of food.
This peaceful omnivore will effectively clean even the largest home aquarium of debris and food scraps. The Sand Sifting Sea Star should be actively fed a varied diet made up of natural food sources, especially in well-established marine aquariums. Otherwise, this voracious feeder will quickly clean your aquarium of debris, then bury itself in your substrate, starve to death, and eventually start to decompose.
To promote their eating habits, the sand-turning starfish should be kept in aquariums with large, deep sand bottoms several inches deep. Since it moves more slowly 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, salinity and pH levels and does not 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 during handling.
