Blue Linckia questions

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by kien

2. is the long term survivability phase. The whole process of making sure they stay alive in your tank. Keeping them long term is notoriously difficult for may reasons. This is another example of, "if it were easy everyone would have one".

right there is why I won't get one. Last thing I need is an eroding slimy blue ball of snot

[Proteus]

Next time a fromia may be a better choice. They come in a number of colors and patterns and I believe are hardier than linkia

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by Titus99

Next time a fromia may be a better choice. They come in a number of colors and patterns and I believe are hardier than linkia

I have the opposite experience. I find Fromia to be legit sensitive, especially during shipping.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

I have the opposite experience. I find Fromia to be legit sensitive, especially during shipping.

I tried a linkia. Didn't work, and I don't want to try again. I had a fromia for a year and have. It went through three tank changes and did fine though I know it still past I think it was because the small tank wasn't mature enough and it ran out of food. I would love another star but am unsure if its wise in a small tank

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by kien

The whole process of getting them into your tank comfortably.

This line made me snicker. I thought my blue linkia was comfortable in my 80g but admittedly I hadn't seen him in awhile. Then I remembered, at some point in time, a few weeks ago my drain pipe that goes from my 230g reef to my 80g was making funny noises. Well just the other day, low and behold, there's my blue linkia in my 230g reef tank??? WTH??? Somehow he climbed up the pipe in the 80g all the way into my 230g So on a side note if you haven't seen the starfish in awhile, and you have a sump, check it.

Anyway, yes slower acclimation is better, but if the temp and salinity are close then I usually just mix a bit of the water together, wait a bit, then dump it in

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by Titus99

I tried a linkia. Didn't work, and I don't want to try again. I had a fromia for a year and have. It went through three tank changes and did fine though I know it still past I think it was because the small tank wasn't mature enough and it ran out of food. I would love another star but am unsure if its wise in a small tank

Well, in the event that sample size has any bearing on the debate, I've done thousands of each

[SanguinesDream]

Fortunately, this specimen is very turgid and in great conditions with no lesions or pits. It has already moved itself to the dark side of the tank and the liverock it came on has a mysis colony in it.

I did gradually lower the salinity today so I am crossing my fingers.

[reefwars]

to me starfish are food for shrimps:P

[SanguinesDream]

Originally Posted by reefwars

to me starfish are food for shrimps:P

Noooo! Don't say that, they might hear you.

[Delphinus]

Interesting. I used to think stars were needing fairly long acclimations, I always dripped mine over a ridiculous number of hours .. so it is nice to hear that this may not be needed.

Two thoughts, however, that I'd like to add to this:

1. It was my understanding as of a few years ago at least, that the eating habits of non-predatory stars (such as fromia and linckia and the others that look like those) is just not really understood. Whether they adapt to captivity or not is largely based on whether they adapt to eating whatever is available to them in the tank.

2. Some things seem to need to be acclimated. Shrimp for sure can suffer from osmostic shock. I don't think they need a huge dripping period but definitely not too instantly.