Sand Sifting Starfish....mating or just buddies?

[Neptune1707]

I have 2 sand sifting star fish in my Red Sea Max-500 tank. I have had them about a year. In the last couple weeks the 2 starfish have been finding each other during the day and night and lay on top of each other. They sit like that for a couple hours, then separate and go back to sifting thru the sand. From what I have read I don't think they are mating. Any thoughts are why they are clingy to one another. Just curious.

I will try and get a picture tonight and post.

 

[john.m.cole3]

interesting

 

[Neptune1707]

Finally a good pic of their little ritual

 

[Reefnjunkie]

Interested in hear what others say, I've got 6 in my tank and this "ritual" is a daily occurrence.

I figured the top was lazy and hitching a ride ( J/K)

 

[Broncfan73]

Tagging along; mine started doing that a few days ago.
My wife said that they are brown chicken, brown cowing it, but wasn't sure.
I found about ten specs that turned out to be turbo snail babies, so I thought it could just be the spring of love, in my tank.

 

[Neptune1707]

They don't move much once they are sitting like that. I just got home last night from being out of town. They started this around 11 pm last night and this morning at 7:30 when I got up, they were in the same position on top of one another. The first time I saw it I thought perhaps the one underneath was dying and perhaps the one on top was looking for a meal....but they are both very much alive and go about their business during the day LOL.

 

[Zoey]

a friendly hug while passing?!

 

[briancarterkc]

Well. They might be practicing, but, you'd know if they were mating. As I understand it, it's a...messy...process as starfish reproduction is more of a broadcast type thing.

I found this video with a hilarious soundtrack to it for more information:

The best part is when the video cuts away to the woman and they realize that they're creating a dirty starfish movie.

 

[esther]

I’m gonna bump this thread from 2016... just came home to this. Anyone know what the deal is? All 4 of my starfish are doing this right now.

 

[esther]

#reefsquad

 

[Retro Reefer]

I don’t have any idea what they are doing but You don’t have the lights down low with Berry White playing in the background do you? ;Hilarious ;Facepalm

 

[mrtallbear86]

I have 2 sand sifting star fish in my Red Sea Max-500 tank. I have had them about a year. In the last couple weeks the 2 starfish have been finding each other during the day and night and lay on top of each other. They sit like that for a couple hours, then separate and go back to sifting thru the sand. From what I have read I don't think they are mating. Any thoughts are why they are clingy to one another. Just curious.

I will try and get a picture tonight and post.

Did you ever find out what it was? Mine are doing this now

 

[zukihara]

 

[B-Rad Lowe]

My LFS says mating

 

[Jilly92]

Finally a good pic of their little ritual

Cleaning/grooming?

 

[Mini Pearl]

LOL. March must be the month! Just found mine this evening.

 

[jrlg]

Same thing here one has been hitching a ride for the last 2 weeks

 

[Degg]

I was just now on a beach in Bohol, Philippines and saw dozens of stars doing this stacking. The tide was way out. I found this thread while trying to research if it was mating. I guess not? Anyway it seems to be normal in the wild here.

 

[Degg]