Blue Linkia Star

[hockeyplyr]

I recently added a Blue linkia star and it looks like its doing well, But It spends most of its time up at the top of the tank just at the water level.
This is my first star so I dont know what to expect as far as behavior. So far it has done one or two laps around the top of tank
This may sound stupid but, Will it climb out? Is this strange? Or is it just feeling its way around.
Also Do I need to worry about my lobster or hermit eating the thing. Guy at LFS said no just want your opinions

 

[the infamous sea cucumber]

When i first got my blue linka it did the same thing. It went right up to water level, and it hid behind my power head. I watched it stay up there for about 5-6 hours, decided to help with the introductions to my tank, picked it up gently and placed it on the live rock. It attached itself and hid for a few days and has been doing fine ever since. I would suggest, if your really worried about it just move it somewhere safe. I dont think it will move out of the water (mine extended a leg or two above the water line, but thats it). Good luck, very nice addition to your tank. P.S. i have read it is not so hardy, so dont feel so bad if it doesn't aclimate. When adding it to the tank, slowly add your tank water to the lfs bag over a long period of time (sensitive to salinity? ph?). That should help..GOOD LUCK

 

[hockeyplyr]

Originally posted by The Infamous Sea Cucumber:
<strong>When i first got my blue linka it did the same thing. It went right up to water level, and it hid behind my power head. I watched it stay up there for about 5-6 hours, decided to help with the introductions to my tank, picked it up gently and placed it on the live rock. It attached itself and hid for a few days and has been doing fine ever since. I would suggest, if your really worried about it just move it somewhere safe. I dont think it will move out of the water (mine extended a leg or two above the water line, but thats it). Good luck, very nice addition to your tank. P.S. i have read it is not so hardy, so dont feel so bad if it doesn't aclimate. When adding it to the tank, slowly add your tank water to the lfs bag over a long period of time (sensitive to salinity? ph?). That should help..GOOD LUCK</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks for the info. Do you Know about the other question I asked will My other inverts eat it?

 

[the infamous sea cucumber]

Dont know about the lobster (I wouldn't be too worried though), the marble sized hermit will leave it alone....but....that golf ball sized one may be a problem. Bigger hermits tend to be distructive, especially in a reef tank. Oh, and if it's harry...harry legs and whatnot, you really should remove it. When i first got my tank, my lfs sold me two of those big golf ball sized harry suckers (said they were friendly, lol!), and they killed a fish, many other hermits, some snails i think. I fed it to my anenome <img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" /> . Hehe. Hopefully somebody will advise you on that lobster. Good luck!

 

[lu]

I don't know about a red lobster but I have a purple one and he doesn't mess with anything. I have 3 stars and he's never done anything, just hides behind the rocks waiting for me to feed him...LOL Cute little guy. I've never had a marine betta but from what I've heard (heresay now, not experience), I'd be more afraid of him doing something to it.
Hope it helps....

 

[katara]

One thing is for sure..NEVER touch your star bare handed,apparently the oils in your fingertips will kill it,and it must never hit air.Also, I've yet to meet someone who has been able to keep a blue star over a couple of months,perhaps you will be the exception,I hope so.Remember that they cannot tolerate nitrites so frequent water changes are a must.My lfs said they need to be in a reef tank but I don't know if this is in fact true..best of luck to you,they are gorgeous!

 

[the infamous sea cucumber]

Wow, i wish i would have known about the problems with touching it, but i've handled mine twice (only picked it up by one of its arms), and it has been alive for almost a year now. Is it only the blue linka that has this characteristic? I'd like to know. Thanks.

 

[jakob4001]

care on star fish aries from what 1 person says or the other or w/ species...blue linkia is 1 of the lesser hardy species though...some stars CAN be handled...if you have ever seen a tide pool in person, you might have notices a few stars exposed to the air or in very very shallow water...for whatever reason some star fish will attempt to climb out...we occasionally remove green brittle from the water for few minutes & put it back usually only after it has been exibiting behavoir to want to be out of the tank...has done no harm to it...do the same for the hermit crab large white stirpe hermit crab occassionally...of course it's never a good idea to handle anything in the tank frequently

 

[katara]

To be honest I don't know if this only relates to the blue linkia but I was heavily forewarned by at least 2 employees at at my lfs..so on the way home I picked up some rubbermaid gloves,just in case..Good for you on you success..do you have reef??