{"product_id":"sand-sifting-starfish","title":"Sand Sifting Starfish | Astropecten polyacanthus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sand Sifting Starfish is a quietly industrious sand-bed cleaner that glides just below the surface, sifting detritus, leftover food and micro-fauna as it goes. It keeps the substrate turned over and free of harmful gas pockets. We'll be candid: it is only suited to large, mature systems with a deep, well-established sand bed, as it can exhaust its food supply and slowly starve in smaller or newer tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAstropecten polyacanthus is found across the sandy lagoon floors and reef flats of the Indo-Pacific, where it burrows through soft substrate hunting small invertebrates and organic matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA flattened, five-armed star in sandy beige to grey-brown, edged with neat marginal spines, superbly camouflaged against the substrate. It typically reaches around 10–15 cm across, occasionally larger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful toward fish and corals, but not a true \"reef safe\" animal in the strict sense: as it ploughs the sand it consumes the very micro-fauna, small snails, tiny clams and other bivalves that live there, depleting sand-bed biodiversity. It is best regarded as reef safe with caution and reserved for tanks where that trade-off is acceptable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA carnivore, it engulfs sand-bed micro-fauna, small molluscs, detritus and leftover meaty food. Natural food in an aquarium is rarely enough, so supplemental target-feeding with chopped seafood, mysis or sinking pellets placed on the sand near the star is almost always required to prevent gradual starvation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRequires a large, established aquarium with a deep sand bed of at least 5–8 cm. Starfish are extremely sensitive to changes in salinity and water chemistry, so a slow drip acclimation over a couple of hours is essential — never expose them to air unnecessarily. Like all invertebrates they cannot tolerate copper. Keep water quality high and parameters rock-steady.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAstropecten species are broadcast spawners with separate sexes, releasing gametes into the water. They are not bred in the home aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAstropecten polyacanthus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSand Sifting Starfish \/ Sand Sifting Sea Star\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12–15 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (predatory toward sand-bed fauna)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e280 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400+ litres with a deep, mature sand bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore — sand-bed micro-fauna, small molluscs \u0026amp; detritus; needs supplemental feeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpecific Gravity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.024–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, established reef aquariums with a deep sand bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWith caution — preys on beneficial sand-bed fauna and can starve in small tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (marine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful reef fish and corals in a large system with a deep sand bed. Best kept singly unless the tank is very large.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid pufferfish, triggerfish and harlequin shrimp, which may attack the star. Avoid pairing with animals that also depend on sand-bed fauna, and think twice in nano or newly set-up tanks where it will not find enough to eat.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351899291939,"sku":"AA2550-S-AU","price":35.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234109243683,"sku":"AA2550","price":38.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351899324707,"sku":"AA2550-L-AU","price":44.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-30cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351899357475,"sku":"AA2550-XL-AU","price":51.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/sand-sifting-starfish-43078815056163.webp?v=1790305367","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/sand-sifting-starfish","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}