Related Articles: Sand-Sifting Stars, Asterina Stars, An Introduction to the Echinoderms:  The Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers and More... By James W. Fatherree, M.Sc.

Related FAQs: Seastar ID 1, Sandsifting Stars 1, Sandsifting Stars 2, & FAQs on: Sandsifting Star Behavior, Sandsifting Star Compatibility, Sandsifting Star Selection, Sandsifting Star Systems, Sandsifting Star Feeding, Sandsifting Star Disease, Sandsifting Star Reproduction, & Sand Sifters for Marine Systems, Sea Stars 1, Sea Stars 2, Sea Stars 3, Sea Stars 4, Sea Stars 5, Seastar Selection, Seastar Scavenger Selection, Brittlestar Selection, Serpent Star Scavengers, Seastar Compatibility, Seastar Systems, Seastar Behavior, Seastar Feeding, Seastar Reproduction, Seastar Disease, Asterina Stars, Chocolate Chip Stars, Crown of Thorns Stars, Fromia Stars, Linckia Stars, Linckia Stars 2,

Unknown Sea Star 3/10/09
I have had this critter in my reef setup for two months now. I have been noticing some interesting things happening that has led me to believe him to be not reef safe. As soon as the lights go out he seems to go after my two very large turbo snails and my electric blue hermit crab, without luck due to their size. I caught him this morning with one of my nice new fancy conch snails in his mouth. I pull him out of the tank (pulling the snail with him) and banished him to the sump until i can find him a new home. Any ideas what this guy is? i was told he is a reef safe sand sifter.
Thoughts?
<Mmm... is a sand sifter... looks like a juvenile Archaster typicus... is NOT "reef safe", but a consumer of most all small in-fauna (and above) vagile invertebrates. Bob Fenner>