Sand Sifting Starfish MED

The Sand Sifting Starfish has a peaceful temperament and can be housed with a wide range of fish and invertebrates.

The top side of their body is covered in paxillae (little stakes) which are brown, grey, or cream and form a pattern like a chevron. There are long spines down their 5 arms which are brown at the bottom and paler at the tips.

They are also difficult to sex as there are no distinguishing characteristics between male and female. This is another reason that breeding is difficult.

Reproduction involves the female star releasing her eggs which are fertilized by the males’ sperm. However, it is not easy to breed this species in an aquarium as there is a high chance that the fry will get eaten.

Sand Sifting Starfish’s natural environment is in sand beds, often in estuaries and harbors, to a depth of 185 meters. They bury themselves a few inches under the sand without much of their body showing on the surface.

These Starfish contain the neurotoxin Tetrodotoxin (TTX) which has no known antidote, so don't feed it to anything else if it dies.

In the wild, they can be found in Indo-Pacific locations such as Indonesia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji. Sand Sifting Starfish are purple on the top of their body and orange underneath.

Tank Recommendations for the Sand Sifting Starfish

Recommended tank size is at least 10 gallons (40 liters).

Sand Sifting Starfish are extremely sensitive to changes in water levels, when introducing it to an aquarium it will require a long drip acclimation.

They should be housed in a tank that has a bed covered in several inches of sand substrate. If there are rocks in the tank, they should be organized in a way that will not trap the starfish as they are unable to climb over them.

Any changes in salinity and oxygen levels will have an impact on this species. Copper-based medications are also unsuitable as Sand Sifting Stars are unable to tolerate them.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Sand Sifting Starfish are peaceful tank dwellers, they can be housed with a wide variety of fish and invertebrates.

Natural predators that consume invertebrates should be avoided,

Usually Compatible

Suitable tank buddies include other invertebrates and fish such as Anthias, Basslets, Clownfish, Dragonets, Gobies, Pseudochromis, and Tangs.

Sometime Compatible

Care should be taken when housing Sand Sifting Starfish with Angels, Anglers/Frogfish, Batfish, Boxfish, Butterflyfish, Eels, Groupers, Grunts/Sweetlips, Hogfish, Lions/Scorpionfish, Seahorse/Pipefish, Squirrelfish, and Wrasse.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid housing Sand Sifting Starfish with Filefish, Parrotfish, Pufferfish, Sharks/Rays, and Triggerfish.

The Sand Sifting Starfish is easy to take care of and inexpensive. It plays an important role in keeping a tank clean however aquarists need to make sure it is properly fed.

Feeding Sand Sifting Starfish

Sand Sifting Starfish are omnivores. They will consume detritus in the sand and leftovers that fish do not eat, which makes them ideal creatures for keeping an aquarium clean.

They also eat small invertebrates including shrimp, mollusks, urchins, and other small sea stars. It is important to keep them well-fed, or they will clear a tank of detritus then bury into the sand and starve, eventually decaying.