Sand dollar info.

[Keri]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Not sure if you meant me, but I definitely referring to a sand dollar with my comments.

nope, you got it right!
Beautiful sand dollar by the way, I don't think I've ever seen one in a tank

[fishoholic]

Thanks everyone for the info. I'd like to have one to help keep the sand bed clean. We have a yellow head sleeper goby who does an ok job but I think he could use some help.

[corpusse]

Originally Posted by fishoholic

Thanks everyone for the info. I'd like to have one to help keep the sand bed clean. We have a yellow head sleeper goby who does an ok job but I think he could use some help.

He won't be of much help. I'd say they're more ornamental then anything. They do clean but at a very very very slow pace. Add too many and you run the risk of starving them.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by corpusse

He won't be of much help. I'd say they're more ornamental then anything. They do clean but at a very very very slow pace. Add too many and you run the risk of starving them.

If I get a sand dollar I will be only getting one.

[supersmile]

Where in Edmonton can you get sand dollars and how much are they? Do you think they can be in a tank with a sand sifting starfish?

[mr_alberta]

I wouldn't recommend it. Since both target the same animals for food in the sand, and since our tanks aren't huge enough to sustain a large, diverse sandbed, either one, or possibly both, will eventually starve.

Originally Posted by supersmile

Where in Edmonton can you get sand dollars and how much are they? Do you think they can be in a tank with a sand sifting starfish?

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by mr_alberta

I wouldn't recommend it. Since both target the same animals for food in the sand, and since our tanks aren't huge enough to sustain a large, diverse sandbed, either one, or possibly both, will eventually starve.

Do you think one would starve in a 230g? I don't like the idea of buying one if it's slowly going to starve to death.

[mr_alberta]

That's a hard question to answer. Factors like age of sand, depth of sand, etc play a huge roll in things. However, I haven't really seen very much information on long term survivability of any of the sand sifting animals. Aside from the one poster who has had his for 2 years, I haven't heard/read/seen anyone else with one that has lasted more than 1.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by mr_alberta

That's a hard question to answer. Factors like age of sand, depth of sand, etc play a huge roll in things. However, I haven't really seen very much information on long term survivability of any of the sand sifting animals. Aside from the one poster who has had his for 2 years, I haven't heard/read/seen anyone else with one that has lasted more than 1.

The sand is half new and half a couple of years old (mixed old sand with new when we started up our 230g) and is about 2 inches deep. There seems to be lots of worms etc. in it for one to eat. Thanks for the info it's good to know.