white sand stars

[Venaman]

ive heard other names for these but i cant recall. .
are these things effective or do the kill/eat the fauna?
also will they actually eat the sand, like will they eat enough that ill notice a difference over time?

thanks

[naser]

i have one in my fish tank. i wouldnt suggest one in a reef being they they will eat everything in your sand.

[Ninong]

Originally posted by Venaman:

ive heard other names for these but i cant recall.

Archaster typicus.

are these things effective or do the kill/eat the fauna?

They are effective at eating and killing the infauna in the top layer of the sandbed which has a domino effect on the stability of the total sandbed infaunal population.

also will they actually eat the sand,

They do not eat sand, they only shift it around on the surface.