Blue Linckia 12-06-05
I recently added a blue linckia to my system. I read a great deal before doing so and know that they eventually parish from starvation. Besides
offering a meaty food is there an algae supplement that can be added to the tank since this is their main diet? Also since being added four days
ago he has stayed in the same area.
<That doesn't sound good.>
I acclimated him for about four hours and was wondering if he hasn't moved because there is an
abundance of what he likes or perhaps I didn't acclimate long enough.
<Your acclimation period sounds plenty long. Time is secondary to proper acclimation
procedure. I will assume you did everything right. Odds are he is dead at this point. If he starts to deteriorate or you see the stomach protruding, but will not retract if the
linckia is flipped over then I would toss him. Linckia are extremely hard to find healthy and should
truly be avoided.>
Thanks for the help...again.
<Glad to help, Travis>
-The incredible shrinking Linckia-
I have a blue Linckia that is orange in color. <Isn't that an oxymoron? :)
> I have had it for over six months. She moves around actively has
no sores of any sort. The problem is that she keeps getting smaller
and smaller, I feel that she may be starving what can I do, I don't want to lose
her? <Unfortunately, this is all too common with Linckia stars, especially
larger ones. Since their diet consists of mainly microfauna, it takes a pretty
large and well established tank to keep them truckin'. You can hand feed them by
placing bits of seafood (got any sponge based marine angel food?) on the
substrate in front of it's path or literally drop it right on top. Try this a
few times per week or more. Good luck! -Kevin>
Blue starfish
Bob, First, many thanks on your informative faq's. It has been a great help.
<Ah, just as planned!>
Secondly, a question about my blue starfish (Linckia laevigata). I got it two days ago, after acclimating it into the tank, it was
quite active the first day, moving around the sand and rocks, pretty much all over the place.. but the second day, it was on this rock all
the time, not moving at all. Visibly it appears to be alright, not much different from day 1. is this normal?
<Not a-normal... have seen this species in the wild and in captivity not seem to more for days, weeks, only to resume activity... as long as it has no apparent discolorations, vacuolations, I wouldn't worry, and I definitely
wouldn't handle/move the specimen unnecessarily. Bob
Fenner>
The tank is a 55 gal, finished cycling live rock, with some snails and crabs in it, but no fish. I didn't clean the live rock too
meticulously so there were some die-offs during cycling... that should provide ample food for the starfish and critters, no?
<Perhaps>
thanks for your help! -Alex
Blue Linckia Starfish
>Hello!
>>Greetings, Marina here.
>Like others, we should have read more information before purchasing a blue Linckia
starfish! Now that we have, however, we are not sure if it is
doing well or not. We acclimated it very slowly adding about 1/2 cup
of our
tank water every 30 minutes to it in a bucket over about 4 or 5 hours before
putting it in our 92 gallon aquarium. It sat on the rock (attached
picture) for about 10 minutes and then decided to travel. It bumped
our elegance coral crossing the sand and went behind some of the live rock
(behind finger
coral in photo) and has not come out since. Is this something to be
concerned about?
>>Not at all.
>How long should we wait for it to move out from behind the
live rock before we try to get it out (we don't want to stress it but don't want
to find out too late if it is not doing well)? We can see parts of a
couple of its legs and it still appears healthy.
>>I really wouldn't worry about it too much, folks. Do NOT try
to remove it, it's too easy to tear off its legs, leaving a good entry point for
infection. Even if a couple of weeks went by, I wouldn't worry too
much, it may simply be finding much of what it prefers behind the scenes, so to
speak. You can *try* leaving it some tidbits in a more open area, but
don't be surprised if someone else takes you up on the offer. Try a
mirror on a stick to look at undersides and areas not otherwise easily visible,
I think it will turn up sooner or later. Best of luck, and nice tank! Marina
Re: Blue Linckia Starfish
>Thanks Marina!
>>My pleasure.
>Since we emailed you, it has stayed behind the rocks but is definitely
moving around. I think you are right that it is finding plenty to
feast on back there! I will try to use a mirror per your suggestion,
that is a great idea! This is my husband's second reef aquarium (he
had one over ten years ago) and my first, and I have to say that it is one of
the best most rewarding things
I have ever done! I am so obsessed :-) so I really
appreciated your "nice tank" comment.
>>Good, because they don't come easily. ;)
>One other question I have, I have been hand feeding the open brain,
doughnut, hammer and elegance corals with cut up fresh shrimp a couple times a
week and they seem to be doing very well, is this the right amount or
should I be doing it more or less often. I am most concerned about
the elegance coral since we have heard that they can be very difficult to
maintain.
>>You may want to add phytoplankton to their diets, but they sure looked
pretty good to me. I would only suggest finding a good supplement
specifically for corals (I like Selcon for fishes), and adding some variety to
their diets as well (squid, octopus, and the like). Glad all is well,
Amy! Marina
-The incredible shrinking Linckia-
I have a blue Linckia that is orange in color. <Isn't that an oxymoron? :)
> I have had it for over six months. She moves around actively has
no sores of any sort. The problem is that she keeps getting smaller
and smaller, I feel that she may be starving what can I do, I don't want to lose
her? <Unfortunately, this is all too common with Linckia stars, especially
larger ones. Since their diet consists of mainly microfauna, it takes a pretty
large and well established tank to keep them truckin'. You can hand feed them by
placing bits of seafood (got any sponge based marine angel food?) on the
substrate in front of it's path or literally drop it right on top. Try this a
few times per week or more. Good luck! -Kevin>
