Sand Star missing digits

[Willow]

sandsifting stars need huge healthy sandbeds to keep them fed and healthy. it is most likely starving to death. there is a good article in the november issue of coral magazine on stars and health.

[TheReefGeek]

IMO, your tank is too new and too small for stars. Plus the sand sifting star will eat most of your biodiversity in your sandbed. I would use snails and gobies to sift your sandbed.

Where the legs are missing, does it look like it was torn, or that it is dissintigrating?

[Black Phantom]

I'm going with the group on this one. Your tanks too small. There is a good arcticle on Reef Central and what they require.
I've got one in my 250 with a 6-8 inch sand bed and he does okay but smaller is not a good thing.

[Aquaholic]

Well...

I have had my tank going for about 3 months now, 2 inch bed (small sand) I also have a goby and some snails to sift the bed (i didnt think it was getting sifted around enough so i bought the star. It seems healthy, the legs look like they more "fell off" i guess.

40-45 gal tank "tall cube"
60 lbs of live rock

P.s. hes a fairly small one (leg to leg only about 3")

[TheReefGeek]

Try target feeding it to keep it alive.

What kind of goby do you have?

[Aquaholic]

Yellow watchman, hes doing really well. even says hi once and a while

I'm still looking for a yellowhead jawfish.

[TheReefGeek]

Get a pistol shrimp for him, they might pair up for you.

[Aquaholic]

Have you seen any around town?

I would definetly like to try and pair them up, its sound intersting.

Opps never mind your in edmonton, just saw

[Willow]

dont take this the wrong way but really truely "healthy" starfish legs don't fall off. your sand bed has been stripped off all nutrients, your snails alone can probably manage the cleaning task.