Linckia starfish
- Thread starter bunnyl99
- Start date
angelsrock
Member
from what i've heard they aren't that hardy at all, but ophiura is the person to ask about this though. she know's her stuff when it comes to stars.
reeferman1
Member
Yes, Ophiura is the expert. How old is your tank? If it's not established for at least a minimum of 6 months (I would wait a year) with lots of LR, I would take the star back to the LFS, because most likely it will starve to death. There's a great thread on Stafish via Ophiura at the top of the reef tank forum.
fishieness
Active Member
somelinkias do take to spot feeding, however, they still die quickly because you are not providing them with the proper nutrients. it is still unknown what linkias eat, thought it is believed to be on live rock. This is why a minimume of 100 pounds of live rock is required to be able to keep this species.
Take it back to your LFS. In my opinion, although they are beautiful, they are not suitible for most home aquariums.
your levels should be perfect. your tank should be established andmature, you need tons of live rock, perfect qater chemistry, and a salinity of 1.025-1.026
Take it back to your LFS. In my opinion, although they are beautiful, they are not suitible for most home aquariums.
your levels should be perfect. your tank should be established andmature, you need tons of live rock, perfect qater chemistry, and a salinity of 1.025-1.026
fishieness
Active Member
what size tank and how much live rock do you have? that will be the determining factor on weather or not it is POSSIBLE. But you realy do have to keep a close eye on these guys. They take as long as a year to starve.....
sw65galma
Active Member
How did u acclimate it? They should be slow dripped for about 6 hours
Only 1% will take spot feeding...You can try spot feeding it...but even if it does take it, it's not what it needs to survive.
They thought to eat the bacterial film off of live rock...I which is why we recommend 100lbs or more in a 100gal+ tank.
Your SG should be 1.026 for these guys.
Please don't buy any more things before doing research. You assumed these are like a CC Star, they are NOTHING like them..They are THE most difficult species to care for. And have specific requirements..
They will not tolerate ANY Nitrates so you need to have perfect water.
Once you get to the 1 week point, that is a good sign...but your not in the clear until you get to the 1 month mark...even then if you water takes even the smallest turn for the worse you will loose this one.
Good Luck and remember....RESEARCH FIRST...DON"T ASK THE LFS ANYTHING!
Only 1% will take spot feeding...You can try spot feeding it...but even if it does take it, it's not what it needs to survive.
They thought to eat the bacterial film off of live rock...I which is why we recommend 100lbs or more in a 100gal+ tank.
Your SG should be 1.026 for these guys.
Please don't buy any more things before doing research. You assumed these are like a CC Star, they are NOTHING like them..They are THE most difficult species to care for. And have specific requirements..
They will not tolerate ANY Nitrates so you need to have perfect water.
Once you get to the 1 week point, that is a good sign...but your not in the clear until you get to the 1 month mark...even then if you water takes even the smallest turn for the worse you will loose this one.
Good Luck and remember....RESEARCH FIRST...DON"T ASK THE LFS ANYTHING!
ccws
Member
Originally Posted by sw65galma
Good Luck and remember....RESEARCH FIRST...DON"T ASK THE LFS ANYTHING!
I agree with this 100%. Never go to the LFS and see something that you think is cool and buy it without knowing anything about it. I am a newb, but two months ago the LFS told me that I should get 2 sandsifting stars for my 60 gallon! :scared: I belived them and bought them. I have since gotten rid of them and added cerith snails instead. Becarefull out there. LFS just want the sales!!
Good Luck and remember....RESEARCH FIRST...DON"T ASK THE LFS ANYTHING!
I agree with this 100%. Never go to the LFS and see something that you think is cool and buy it without knowing anything about it. I am a newb, but two months ago the LFS told me that I should get 2 sandsifting stars for my 60 gallon! :scared: I belived them and bought them. I have since gotten rid of them and added cerith snails instead. Becarefull out there. LFS just want the sales!!
S
sinner's girl
Guest
Most will not last longer than 18months in a tank. Then need large tanks with ton of lr, their diet is unknown. If you're going to keep it, try to spot feed it different things, lots of different things, maybe you'll find something it will eat. Get more lr if you can, with lots of heathly growth.
Linckia's belong in the ocean.
Linckia's belong in the ocean.
schneidts
Active Member
Well said, I agree that for the most part they belong in the ocean.
Here is an excellent thread authored by the Star expert...
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180772
Here is a quick copy/paste for 'ya, but you should definitely read the whole thread.
Quick minimums:
- “Pristine” water conditions especially related to specific gravity (1.025-1.026)
- Large, mature reef tank, at least 6 months old
- Ideally a minimum of 150lbs or so of LR. Some can have less, some will need more. But if you have a small tank, IMO under 100g, really think hard. Blue Linckia need some of the largest tanks.
- Long acclimation time
Here is an excellent thread authored by the Star expert...
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180772
Here is a quick copy/paste for 'ya, but you should definitely read the whole thread.
Quick minimums:
- “Pristine” water conditions especially related to specific gravity (1.025-1.026)
- Large, mature reef tank, at least 6 months old
- Ideally a minimum of 150lbs or so of LR. Some can have less, some will need more. But if you have a small tank, IMO under 100g, really think hard. Blue Linckia need some of the largest tanks.
- Long acclimation time
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by bunnyl99
I have an orange one. Since I put it in the tank on friday it has been at the top of the water on the glass. Hasn't eaten. I tried an algae seaweed clip & it isn't interested.
This is because it most likely will not eat it. It is NOT an algae eater, or a detritus eater, and MOST will starve to death in tanks under 100g with less than 100lbs of LR in about a year.
Schneidts
has posted a link to a recent thread I wrote on these. PLEASE do some research to try and provide for these animals as best as possible.
Definitely NOT an impulse purchase
Also I would say it is possible that your chocolate chip star could eat it as well.
I have an orange one. Since I put it in the tank on friday it has been at the top of the water on the glass. Hasn't eaten. I tried an algae seaweed clip & it isn't interested.
This is because it most likely will not eat it. It is NOT an algae eater, or a detritus eater, and MOST will starve to death in tanks under 100g with less than 100lbs of LR in about a year.
Schneidts
Definitely NOT an impulse purchase
Also I would say it is possible that your chocolate chip star could eat it as well.
E
essop3
Guest
You can't feed it. It is believed to eat bacterial film from the live rock. You still didn't mention how much rock you have, how big your tank is, or how you acclimated it.
darth tang
Active Member
Yes, take it back or get atleast 70lbs. of more rock, atleast. It may look like it is doing well.....then suddennly it will disintegrate. The amount of rock you have now, I give the starfish a month.
ophiura
Active Member
As posted above, please read (and if you have more questions you can post in that thread since it will benefit others to have it there):
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180772
They can not be spot fed. They need large - actually huge amounts of live rock to survive, along with pristine water quality. They will take up to a year to starve...a month is acclimation shock. So it would take longer to starve.
There is always the change you have an exception, but that is holding out hope in all likelihood while the animal slowly starves. I agree, add another 70lbs of rock or so (not all at once!
) and your chances greatly improve.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180772
They can not be spot fed. They need large - actually huge amounts of live rock to survive, along with pristine water quality. They will take up to a year to starve...a month is acclimation shock. So it would take longer to starve.
There is always the change you have an exception, but that is holding out hope in all likelihood while the animal slowly starves. I agree, add another 70lbs of rock or so (not all at once!