Considering adding pods

[Cameron]

When I bought my 20 gallon set up a couple months back from a LFS, we ended up getting a sand sifting starfish with it. I didn't do any research beforehand, but the owner told me that the starfish would do well in this tank and that he didn't need any special care. This was a last minute impulse buy, and one that I regret. One of his arms has begun to shrink, and the LFS refuses to take him back, so I'm considering adding some amphipods and copepods to my tank to provide him with some extra food. From what I understand, this will be beneficial to my tank in other ways than just providing the starfish with food. What I would like to know, is there anything I need to know about negative effects that can come from introducing pods to my system? I've seen some in there before, but I think the starfish probably wiped them out.

I currently have the starfish, a Radioactive Dragon Eye Zoa, a Duncan Coral, a hermit crab, a few margarita snails, and will be adding a couple clownfish within the next week or so.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[Virtualbasil]

I could be wrong but I don't think stars eat pods. Your tank Is a little small for a sand sifting star in my opinion. I had one in my 35 gallon but it had a deep sand bed. Pretty sure they just eat detritus.

 

[jared graves]

When I bought my 20 gallon set up a couple months back from a LFS, we ended up getting a sand sifting starfish with it. I didn't do any research beforehand, but the owner told me that the starfish would do well in this tank and that he didn't need any special care. This was a last minute impulse buy, and one that I regret. One of his arms has begun to shrink, and the LFS refuses to take him back, so I'm considering adding some amphipods and copepods to my tank to provide him with some extra food. From what I understand, this will be beneficial to my tank in other ways than just providing the starfish with food. What I would like to know, is there anything I need to know about negative effects that can come from introducing pods to my system? I've seen some in there before, but I think the starfish probably wiped them out.

I currently have the starfish, a Radioactive Dragon Eye Zoa, a Duncan Coral, a hermit crab, a few margarita snails, and will be adding a couple clownfish within the next week or so.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

You would be better of cutting up table shrimp and putting it near him on the sand bed or hand feeding imo

 

[Wiz]

Sand stars don't eat pods. They spend most of there time under the surface. I'm under the impression they eat small sand fauna such as worms. They are bad for deep sand beds for that reason. Pods are always a great addition. But I don't believe they will benefit the star.

 

[Cameron]

Oh alright, I thought I had read somewhere that they eat pods as well as shrimp and other things. I'll pick up some shrimp tonight to start trying to hand feed him and see how that goes. I haven't really read any negatives on adding the pods yet, so I think I'll go ahead and order some of those too. Thank you guys for the insight, it is much appreciated.

 

[steve&mari]

Pods are great for any reef system they add natural food source for fish and corals and help as a part of cleaning crew. They'll eat stuff where snails and crabs can't get. I hope you get it eating something or find a new home they'll definitely deplete everything in that small sandbed quickly and begin starving that could cause issues with stability if you're system can't handle the decaying star.

 

[Cameron]

If I'm unable to get him to eat the shrimp, I may end up calling a few fish stores that are about an hour away and see if any of them are willing to take him. My wife likes the idea of having him, but we both feel that it's more important to do what's best for him.

 

[Cameron]

So it seems that my sand sifter has no desire to eat the shrimp I've tried giving him a few times. I put it on the sand bed, even tried putting him on top of it once. After about 15 minutes of him ignoring it, I take it out and throw it away. Other than trying to find a home for him again, I don't know what to do.

 

[Virtualbasil]

Harlequin shrimp LOL

 

[Cameron]

My wife would kill me, she loves that star fish

 

[manny mandarin]

Pods are amazing critters and one of the most importants in the ocean let alone a tank, your tank will only benefit from pods

 

[Devlin]

Pods are amazing critters and one of the most importants in the ocean let alone a tank, your tank will only benefit from pods

How many pods would you recommend to add for a 40g ? Can you introduce to many?

 

[manny mandarin]

You can never add too many I'd add 100ml and provided you haven't got mandarin or wrasses they should populate the rock

 

[46gReef]

Sand sifting stars feed primarily on micro-fauna in the sand-bed, in a new tank that micro-fauna is pretty much non existent. In my experience they don't even live long in large, established systems, they are a tough species to keep.