Help! Sand Sifter Problems!

[SkankinSurfer05]

For the past week, my sand sifter star has been behind my rock structure. I didnt know what to think because it has never disapeared for so long, and today my tank was cloudy when i woke up. Luckily it reappeared a few minutes ago, the only problem is i noticed two of its arms were shrunken. I figured they must have gotten stuck under a rock or something, but is it possible it has some kind of disease that i should worry about?

Thanks tons,
Alex

 

[Len]

Alex, the problem with these sand-sifting stars is they are so efficient at eating everything in the substrate they often starve in captivity. They may have been sold to you as "sand sifting detrivores," but the truth is they are active, effective predators of sandbed fauna. Yours may have been physically damaged or it could just be malnurished. I wouldn't get another in the future.

 

[SkankinSurfer05]

Thanks for the help. This moring when i woke up, it looked even worse. The lateral spines seem to be falling out all over its arms. Luckily it hasnt gotten all of the life in my sandbed, i can still see several different worms against the glass and sand. If the star dies, hopefully these will replentish themselves over time.

Alex

 

[Len]

It might have also succombed to a bacterial infection (captive sandbeds are really cespools for disease).

 

[Anonymous]

Besides what Len has stated, how long have you had it and what is your SG?
It should be at or close to 1.026 for these animals.

Regards,
David Mohr