ReefDock
MarketplaceSellHow it worksFAQ
  1. Home
  2. /Shop
  3. /Livestock
  4. /Invertebrates
  5. /Sand Sifting Starfish

Sand Sifting Starfish (Astropecten polycanthus)

Find Sand Sifting Starfish across reef-livestock retailers and from fellow hobbyists on ReefDock. Compare sources, check live pricing where available, and review source-tank parameters on Reef-Trak-verified invertebrate listings before you buy.

Sand Sifting Starfish
Photo: Nhobgood Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0
Some retailer links may earn ReefDock a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Where to buy Sand Sifting Starfish

ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this invertebrate. Click through to see the live price.

  • Saltwaterfish

    Search this retailer

    Search Saltwaterfish
  • Amazon

    Search this retailer

    Search Amazon
  • Petco

    Search this retailer

    Search Petco

About Sand Sifting Starfish

Astropecten polycanthus is a flat, five-armed starfish typically ranging from tan to reddish-brown with a slightly spiny appearance on the arm edges. The dorsal surface is granular, and the arms taper toward pointed tips.

Key facts

Family
Astropectinidae
Care Level
Moderate
Max Size
6
Category
Detritivore
Diet Details
Feeds primarily by sifting through sand for detritus, microorganisms, and organic debris. Supplement with meaty foods occasionally if bioload is low.
Origin
Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea to Hawaii, found on sandy and silty substrates in shallow to moderate depths.
Notes
Excellent sand bed maintenance crew. Requires deep sand bed (2-3 inches). Stable parameters (SG 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4). Temperature range 72-78°F. Can live 2-4 years. May need supplemental feeding in clean tanks. Not recommended for bare bottom tanks.
Type
Starfish
Compatibility
Generally peaceful and compatible with most fish and non-aggressive invertebrates. Avoid housing with predatory species that may crush or attack it.
Water Parameters
Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.023-1.025
Min tank size
75 gallons
Appearance Description
Astropecten polycanthus is a flat, five-armed starfish typically ranging from tan to reddish-brown with a slightly spiny appearance on the arm edges. The dorsal surface is granular, and the arms taper toward pointed tips.

Looking for a hobbyist seller?

ReefDock's marketplace lets reef-keepers sell invertebrates directly to other reef-keepers with Stripe-secured checkout and live-arrival photo confirmation. Browse current invertebrates listings on ReefDock, or list your own.

Verify the source tank before you buy

ReefDock is the sister app to Reef Trak. Sellers who maintain a Reef Trak tank log can publish source-tank parameters on eligible invertebrate listings — so you can see the conditions a invertebrate was raised in before you buy. Log this invertebrate on Reef Trak.

Related invertebrates

  • Acropora Crab

    Hoplophrys oatesii

  • Amphipods

    Gammarus sp.

  • Anemone Crab

    Neopetrolisthes ohshimai

  • Arrow Crab

    Stenorhynchus seticornis

  • Astrea Snail

    Lithopoma americanum

  • Barnacle

    Cirripedia sp.

  • Berghia Nudibranch

    Berghia stephanieae

  • Blood Red Fire Shrimp

    Lysmata debelius

ReefDock

The reef marketplace built around live-arrival accountability. Sister app to Reef Trak.

Questions? support@reeftrak.com

Marketplace

  • Browse all listings
  • Auctions
  • Trades
  • Sell on ReefDock

Categories

  • Corals
  • Fish
  • Invertebrates
  • Equipment
  • Frags

About

  • How it works
  • Fees and payouts
  • About ReefDock
  • FAQ
  • ReefTrak integration
  • Marketplace rules
  • Affiliate disclosure

© 2026 ReefDock · Privacy · Terms