Linkia Question

tgill

Member
About three weeks ago I purchased a Blue Linckia from my fav. local pet store. I acclimated him/or her for ever 4 hrs. My question is when am I out of the woods as far as osmo shock problems.
 

ophiura

Active Member
For acclimation shock the window is a month in general...but that is a month from any major perturbation in the tank. So if you do a big water change and something gets out of wack, that is another point to start worrying. Stability is critical.
The next big issue is in 8-12 months or so, when there is a peak in mortality due to starvation (in small, immature, non reef tanks, with less - IMO - than about 150lbs of LR).
I see you are from Houston - what store did you get it from?
 

tgill

Member
I got him from City Pets over on Beechnut. They told me they took alot of time to accl. him. ( I know that they all say that but it never hurts to ask).
 

ophiura

Active Member
Unfortunately, the last time I saw them at City Pets, which I frequent, there were 7 in the tank and 6 were clearly dying from acclimation shock - "melting." I actually wished i had a camera - it was typical and yet would make an impact, maybe, on people as to why we push this idea so hard. So while I love some things ($5 frags anyone?) I don't think I would get the Linckia thoough if you got the one that seemed OK.....regardless, there is no LFS in the city that has a great record with them, IMO. Do you have enough LR and a mature system to provide for it long term?
 

tgill

Member
I have a 75 gal with about 150 # of live rock. It is just under 3 years old and doing very well. And I am a big fan of the $5.00 frags. I got a peice of rock with two stocks of xenia about 2 inches long the other day and they have doubled in size!!!!
 

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by tgill
I have a 75 gal with about 150 # of live rock. It is just under 3 years old and doing very well. And I am a big fan of the $5.00 frags. I got a peice of rock with two stocks of xenia about 2 inches long the other day and they have doubled in size!!!!

While your tank size is a bit on the small end you do have a signnificant amount of LR so we'll keep our fingers crossed. However, I would STRONGLY discourage you adding any other type of "reef safe" star in the genus Linckia, Fromia or relatives. They all compete for similar foods often resulting in too little for either. It does take a year or more to know how the Linckia will do, so that is always a (hopefully) sobering thought :yes: Healthy Linckia with sufficient food will reproduce on their own.
 

tgill

Member
I have a red brittle star...They dont eat the same stuff, right?
I was looking at a Red Bali Star but I believe the Bali is in the Linckia(thanks Bang Guy) family and they would eat the same stuff. I did not get the Bali Star as I have not read enough about them.
Where is your fav fish store? I think I have been to almost all of them in the Houston area.
 
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