BLUE likias........life or death

[iceemn360]

Ive also read much about likias but, like the gonioporas, have a fairly poor survival rate. HOW in the world can you keep one without dying??????? Has any one had any success with this starfish, regeneration, recovery after minar injuries, advice in care or, advice to just stay away from these cool stars. ANY advice, picts, or ANYthing regarding this subject is welcomed.THANKS!

 

[golfish]

a mature tank is a must...the problem is you don't know how the SF was treated before you get your hands on it..If not treated right during collecting, shipping, at the wholesalers and the LFS they will die, not out right either, it can take a few weeks to a month for them to show sign, this mostly happens in our reef tanks so most people think they killed em.

 

[scary]

I got a blue star from my lsf a week ago and they new my tank was 29 gl hex with 35 pd live rock. I now understand that this is not near enough to have a chance keeping him alive. I woke up this morning and he is doing very badly. I am hoping I can return him to the lsf before he totally dies. I am waiting for them to open so I can call them. This is so sad, I wish I new before I purchased him. He looks like he's deflating and his legs are not all holding onto the rock and he is near the bottom. Any suggestions on the proper way to remove him from the tank to take him back to the store? They are so cool , I'm so disappointed.

 

[mpls man]

from the reading i did before i purchased my blue linka they like a well established tank and a lot of live rock to live on, i didn't add 1 until my tank was running for at least 1 yr and i have probally 150 lbs of rock in my 75, and i've had him for about 1-1/2 yrs and is very happy, they also like bigger tanks to roam around. good luck with yours on returning it or what you decide to do.

 

[ophiura]

MPLS MAN - good job...an example of why we keep emphasizing the "patience" part of this hobby. I don't tend to recommend the 75g tank size, just because many people don't have a lot of LR in it versus larger tanks, but looks like you planned. A year is a critical mark, and so I applaud your success Of course to just say it is LR is not doing you service - it is water quality and overall husbandry. Excellent!
There are just so many factors involved in keeping these stars, and I would say that the number one issue is failure to acclimate at stages up to and including the LFS. Also, adapting to artificial seawater appears to be difficult for some types of animals including these stars. Not having PRISTINE water quality with higher specific gravity and a very MATURE tank are also major factors that lead to immediate death within a month. Starvation comes down to longer care and generally being put into tanks that are too small and without enough LR. I often give "6 months" as a minimum tank age, but really it should be a tank established far longer. If I can get people to wait at least 6 months though, that is at least something.
So people do have some success with these stars...with some minimum requirements....
Large tank (again I usually go with 100g minimum)
LOTS OF LIVE ROCK - fundamental...100+ pounds MINIMUM
PRISTINE water quality, specific gravity 1.025-1.026
NO competitors (other similar stars)
MATURE tank
REEF tank (people keep better water quality overall, IMO)
Careful and long acclimation
RESEARCH on appropriate stars
EXPERIENCED hobbyists
CARE in selecting initial specimen, LFS, etc
For the majority of people, my advice is DO NOT BUY THESE STARS. :yes: Their great downfall is their beauty BTW, that also means if you at the shore, or in a craft shop - DO NOT BUY THESE STARS. Go into any shell shop or craft stores and look at all the dried out Linckia Then multiply it by all the shell shops in all the beach dives in much of the touristy world

Then think of the hobby, and the mortality rate in it....
Way to make myself depressed on this Monday morning.

 

[the claw]

If you make it past the first month, and you hav a good system they are easy and beautiful. Most of the time, its from improper care before you even get them to your tank. Here is an old picture of big blue.

 

[ophiura]

I agree on beautiful, I do not agree on easy. I think that can be very misleading. Plenty of people think they have good systems...but it may not be enough.

 

[scary]

Well , I just returned from my lfs and they took him back - gave me a $10 credit , so that was good. The kid said nothing -just "yeah , nobody knows what these things eat" Sooo, I am glad I took him back, too watch him slowly die was making me sick. I pruchased an emerald crab and a diamond goby. Hope I have better luck with these two. Anything I need to know about them, they are floating in the tank right now, getting ready to start the drip in a half hour. Thank you for all your wonderful help.

 

[ophiura]

Good move
I would start a seperate thread on your other questions so you can get participation from those who know about them, but not blue Linckia

 

[jam marine]

hi all i have a blue linkia ,its been in my system for about 6 months,i waited 2 years before i deceided to get one,so far so good ,he roams the 100 odd lbs of rock daily,i personally would not suggest getting one ,unless you have a well established tank,at least a year