Orange Linckia Star

[espkh9]

Does anyone have this star fish ? The main reason I got it was to eat up brown and red hair algae growth on the glass. Do they eat anything else besides algae ? I did some research and wanted a blue linckia star but it seems they are more difficult to take care of...from reading the posts in this forum. So I went with the orange star which was listed as easy care.

 

[sk8shorty01]

What size tank is the star in and how long has the tank been running? Most Linkia's end up starving from a lack of food source so just be careful. I am sure Ophiura will be here to answer your star question shortly, she is by far the starfish expert!

 

[espkh9]

Thank You. This tank is a 65 gallon tank and the star is about 2-3 inches I just got him gave him a nice long drip acclimation. This tank is etablished with about 75 lb's of LR for over a year. There is plenty of brown green and red algae for hom to eat i left the lights on for abour 14 hours a day the past 2 weeks to build up algae so the lmb and star have ample food. This tank is a FOWLR so there are no snails or clams or hermit crabs or any cc like I have in my reef..So when the lights stay on for a long time algae builds up..I now added a LMB and a Orange Linckia Star today to help with the algae and have enough food.

 

[alyssia]

I'm not 100% positive but I think linckias graze off of LR, not eat algae off the glass. My linckias never touch the algae on my glass.

 

[espkh9]

The Orange Linkia, a.k.a. Red Linkia, is a five-armed Starfish exotically colored in orange. These Stars feed on algae found on aquarium glass, rockwork, and substrate. They are completely reef safe and are a must have for anyone with either a fish-only or reef tank.
I'm just going by what the site says I am by no means an expert if anyone knows if they eat algae off glass that would be great!
I also got a LMB I know they eat algae off of LR and glass they have a great personality as well. I can be wrong but I was just going by what the site says and what I asked a few ppl.

 

[jpa0741]

Originally Posted by Espkh9
http:///forum/post/2518131
The Orange Linkia, a.k.a. Red Linkia, is a five-armed Starfish exotically colored in orange. These Stars feed on algae found on aquarium glass, rockwork, and substrate. They are completely reef safe and are a must have for anyone with either a fish-only or reef tank.
I'm just going by what the site says I am by no means an expert if anyone knows if they eat algae off glass that would be great!
I also got a LMB I know they eat algae off of LR and glass they have a great personality as well. I can be wrong but I was just going by what the site says and what I asked a few ppl.
The best advice I can give you is research outside of this site. Alot of stuff listed on this site is just not true. Just for example they list a Blue Hippo tang = min. tank size of 40g

.

 

[alyssia]

bump

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by jpa0741
http:///forum/post/2518827
The best advice I can give you is research outside of this site. Alot of stuff listed on this site is just not true. Just for example they list a Blue Hippo tang = min. tank size of 40g

.
its not that its not true, it is just at times misleading. at the size they sell the hippos they can be kept in a 40 -- for a short period of time

 

[fishermon]

I've had an Orange Linkia for almost a year. He was fairly small when I got him,but now he's huge.
He stays on the glass 99% of the time. I think he does eat on the LR, but rairly. Everyday after my tangs eat seaweed he goes to the clip & munches all he can from the leftovers.

 

[espkh9]

I had mine for a few days or so and he has been wrapped around branching LR since I put him in there is plenty of algae on LR and glass he has not gone near the glass or on the SB and has not touched the greens tied to a rock on the other side of the tank. So lets see what happends when he gets more comfortable.

 

[rad]

I feed starfish pieces of krill. wether or not this is their true diet, I have no idea. But thats what I feed them and they take it down. A quarter piece (depending on the size of the star) would be a good amount. All the books Ive read say they dont know what the true diet of these stars is, but I cant stand to see them eat nothing. so something meaty that they can grab seems logical to me.

 

[espkh9]

Don't they eat when wrapped around a rock it would seem they are eating algae..I do have some Krill I will try to spot feed them ask well.

 

[rad]

I just take a little chunk and use a finger to push it in under the central part of the body. I find that works better than just placing it near them hoping that they will eat it. good luck.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by rad
http:///forum/post/2519517
I just take a little chunk and use a finger to push it in under the central part of the body. I find that works better than just placing it near them hoping that they will eat it. good luck.
Are you feeding linckias this or another kind of star?

 

[espkh9]

Just moved my Orange Linckia Star to my 125 Reef..he immidiately went on the glass and feasted on algae

 

[puffer32]

Linkas do not eat algae, at least not the stuff we see growing in our tanks. They are said to eat microfina. We do have some growing on our glass and rocks. My blue linka eats off both. But they must have large tanks with lots of LR to keep them well fed. It can take over a yr to die of starvation. They do not eat prepared foods at all.

 

[kas2247]

Just out of curiosity, is there anything you can add to the tank to help this microfina grow and help the stars not starve? I'm assuming not, or more people would be talking about it... just thought I'd ask.

 

[espkh9]

He eats the green browinsh item off the glass of my tank call it what you will.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by puffer32
http:///forum/post/2520206
Linkas do not eat algae, at least not the stuff we see growing in our tanks. They are said to eat microfina. We do have some growing on our glass and rocks. My blue linka eats off both. But they must have large tanks with lots of LR to keep them well fed. It can take over a yr to die of starvation. They do not eat prepared foods at all.

 

[espkh9]

hes doing the job and hes beautiful. is all over the glass front sides back all day and night working out pefectly.