which linkia is easiest?
- Thread starter krishj39
- Start date
spsfreak100
Active Member
Actually, the Blue Linkia (Linkia Laevigata) is the most difficult to keep.
The eaisest would most likely be the Linkia guildingi, which is not a 'True' Linkia starfish. They are commonly known as the 'Orange Linkia,' (dispite that it's not a true linkia), or the 'False Linkia Starfish.' These starfish are much more hardy to keep in the home aquarium, and prove to be much easier to care for, compared to the Blue or Purple Linkia Starfish (linkia laevigata).
The exact food for the Linkia guildingi in unknown. We can only assume it eats films of algae, some species of sponges (Guessing Pineapple Sponges and encrusting sponges?), bacteria and possibly some species of pods. We can only guess that they do best in mature systems with high amounts of liverock; we can say that because the most success from these starfish comes from tanks which are mature with lots of liverock.
Remember,
All starfish have extremely sensitive hydrovacular systems, which are extremely sensitive to even the slightest change of pH, temperature, and salinity. Therefor, acclamation should exceed 4 hours (most people do 6-14 hours) using the drip method for aclamation. Otherwise, it may cause damage resulting in Loss of limbs, shrinking, and slowely dying (sometimes discribed as "Melting") off. Other methods of aclamation are often too quick and very stressful to the starfish.
IMHO i would just go with a brittle or serpent star. They are easier to take are of, and wont melt when they die off.
All starfish appear to melt when dying from hydrovascular stress.
Take Care,
Graham
The eaisest would most likely be the Linkia guildingi, which is not a 'True' Linkia starfish. They are commonly known as the 'Orange Linkia,' (dispite that it's not a true linkia), or the 'False Linkia Starfish.' These starfish are much more hardy to keep in the home aquarium, and prove to be much easier to care for, compared to the Blue or Purple Linkia Starfish (linkia laevigata).
The exact food for the Linkia guildingi in unknown. We can only assume it eats films of algae, some species of sponges (Guessing Pineapple Sponges and encrusting sponges?), bacteria and possibly some species of pods. We can only guess that they do best in mature systems with high amounts of liverock; we can say that because the most success from these starfish comes from tanks which are mature with lots of liverock.
Remember,
All starfish have extremely sensitive hydrovacular systems, which are extremely sensitive to even the slightest change of pH, temperature, and salinity. Therefor, acclamation should exceed 4 hours (most people do 6-14 hours) using the drip method for aclamation. Otherwise, it may cause damage resulting in Loss of limbs, shrinking, and slowely dying (sometimes discribed as "Melting") off. Other methods of aclamation are often too quick and very stressful to the starfish.
IMHO i would just go with a brittle or serpent star. They are easier to take are of, and wont melt when they die off.
All starfish appear to melt when dying from hydrovascular stress.
Take Care,
Graham
the claw
Active Member
Simple answer to your question. There isn't one!
They are all hard to keep.
Plus the fact, if you didn't pluck it from the ocean itself, you never know if it was your fault or not that they melted. Even if you acclimated it perfectly, if the LFS employee, or your favorite Death-co employee, etc gets the star in and doesn't treat it prperly, it will die sometime in the next four weeks from hydrovascular shock.
They are all hard to keep.
Plus the fact, if you didn't pluck it from the ocean itself, you never know if it was your fault or not that they melted. Even if you acclimated it perfectly, if the LFS employee, or your favorite Death-co employee, etc gets the star in and doesn't treat it prperly, it will die sometime in the next four weeks from hydrovascular shock.
ophiura
Active Member
None of them are easy, and I surely didn't say the blue was. IMO, your tank is too small for a blue, which, in general, should not be sold in this hobby.
As noted, the orange Linckia in this trade is not a true Linckia (and it is NOT Linckia guildingi), but a close relative with a similarly difficult to appreciate/provide diet. In general, the purple, orange and burgandy forms seem only marginally 'tougher' than the true Linckia (but this is very relative....all are difficult to keep). These species are generally species of Echinaster, Henricia, and Tamaria.
The only relatively 'tough' Linckia is Linckia multiflora, and Ryebread has posted pictures of it. It will commonly reproduce in even 'smaller' tanks eg 55g, so long as there is loads of LR, upon which it grazes.
All echinoderms require stable mature systems with pristine water parameters and a slow acclimation.
As noted, the orange Linckia in this trade is not a true Linckia (and it is NOT Linckia guildingi), but a close relative with a similarly difficult to appreciate/provide diet. In general, the purple, orange and burgandy forms seem only marginally 'tougher' than the true Linckia (but this is very relative....all are difficult to keep). These species are generally species of Echinaster, Henricia, and Tamaria.
The only relatively 'tough' Linckia is Linckia multiflora, and Ryebread has posted pictures of it. It will commonly reproduce in even 'smaller' tanks eg 55g, so long as there is loads of LR, upon which it grazes.
All echinoderms require stable mature systems with pristine water parameters and a slow acclimation.
krishj39
Active Member
Thanks guys! No blue linkia for me then! Sorry for mis-quoting you Ophiura. I was interested in the blue linkia because of its unusual color. What kind of care does Linckia multiflora need? I already have a red serpent that is doing exceptionally well. I know serpents and brittles are the easiest, but I already have serpent and I don't like the brittles (don't want them chowing on my fish one day). So, I am looking around for more unusual, interesting and beautiful alternatives to those mainstays. Any recommendations? I'm not at all sold on Linkias, like I said, just looking for a starfish that I can keep healthy that isn't the standard serpent or brittle. I do have 140lbs of LR, and I'm confident that even a linkia would do well in my tank, and believe I'm ready for a starfish that is harder to keep.
ophiura
Active Member
FWIW, there is no biological difference between serpenstars and brittlestars and either are equally likely, IMO, to cause potential problems (or not). I personally feel that Linckia multiflora is the only suitable Linckia in the trade. It grazes on various and misc. things on LR...and we can only assume this...it does not likely feed on any 'macro' or nuisance algae. Lots of healthy LR is the key, along with a very mature tank, with ideal parameters, and a long acclimation. Ryebread has one.
krishj39
Active Member
OOO, you just sparked a thought: are there ANY starfish that feed on algae? I definately want one if there is. Ok, so multiflora is the only one I can responsibly own. Rye, you out there? Can you post a picture of yours? What colors are they? Ophiura, yeah, I knew brittle and serpents were just varieties of the same starfish. However, brittles do seem to have more of a reputation of eating fish, particularly greens. Anyway, fact or fiction, I don't want to take the risk with a brittle.
rook
Member
Ophiura,
Quick question. A local store has been selling what it claims are linkia multiflora stars. They look very similar to the starfish in the pictures above, except they are blue. They have a lighter blue main color with darker blue spots. I cannot remember if it has darker colored tips or not.
Would you know off hand if these are indeed l.multiflora? How could I be sure?
Thanks
Quick question. A local store has been selling what it claims are linkia multiflora stars. They look very similar to the starfish in the pictures above, except they are blue. They have a lighter blue main color with darker blue spots. I cannot remember if it has darker colored tips or not.
Would you know off hand if these are indeed l.multiflora? How could I be sure?
Thanks