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>
