Blue Starfish - what's going on?

[FSUNole_reefer]

Hey R2R... I just added a blue starfish a couple of days ago and this is what it looks like today.. Is it dying?

My guess it is since its been deteriorating since this morning. It doesn't move much either... Well, it hasn't since it went in.

I acclimated it using the drip method for about an hour until salinity matched main tank...

I already took it out and had to throw it away.. My gut says its rotting and I don't want it to continue to decompose..

Anyone with suggestions of what possibly went wrong? Any insight would help.

 

[twilliard]

Oh my.. not good
Did it get exposed to air?

Sorry

 

[evolved]

Sorry to say, but it is toast. No harm in what you did (taking it out)

Linckia are very difficult and only survive long term (and only sometimes) in huge tank (300+ gallons).

Oh my.. not good
Did it get exposed to air?

Contrary to popular belief, that's actually not harmful to starfish.

 

[Dyonopses]

Looks like it got exposed to air. That cant happen, not even for 1 second.

 

[thehammer1985]

Yes starfish can be exposed to air and linckias are very finicky during shipping it is probably not something you did. They are just very touchy. Also in long term care it is recommended that these be in a large established reef as they will not readily accept artificial feedings. But just for future lookout sensitive inverts such as starfish you should acclimate drip style over 2-3 hours in a heated area

 

[Tahoe61]

I have seen Linckia exposed to air in tidal areas in the wild in Samoa, I believe that is an old wives tail. Most specimens are not provided with proper or adequate nutrition, what we receive in the hobby are already challenged specimens. Experts and long term hobbyist are unable to be exact as to diet type.

 

[evolved]

Most specimens are not provided with proper or adequate nutrition, what we receive in the hobby are already challenged specimens.

That too.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I've always heard that Linkia's can't be exposed to air, but other stars are okay. I'm seeing people here say that they can be exposed to air. Can anyone provide links to this information?

 

[thehammer1985]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/linckiafaqs.htm

Search air in page. Also look at people's forums who have been successful keeping them it wasn't air that killed them in the long run

 

[bwrag]

I have seen multiple times mine with a arm out of the water. And he is healthy as can be

 

[eea60]

I have seen several blue and red stars that have melted like that. They usually don't ship well at all and can look healthy for a few days after a lfs gets them in. That is why I would always make sure they have been ok for at least week. Many are dead and just don't know it yet. Sucks to be them.

 

[AlexG]

Personally I try to minimize air exposure when ever I got linkia stars. Its not that they cant take the air it more about the other effects it can cause. Look at starfish closely in the store. Any visible damage to the tips of the arms is a sign to pass on the purchase. I would also ask the LFS how they acclimate their starfish. Linkia stars can do well in tanks but they need to be established tanks and most important of all is acclimation. I am sure many hobbyists avoid LFS water in their displays but in the case of starfish I make exceptions as extremely slow acclimation has yielded more starfish surviving. I normally do a 24hour acclimation by taking the bag with the starfish and make a few small slices with a razor blade. I then sit the bag in a low flow area and leave it suspended for 24hours making sure the bag does not colapse. The reason for this overkill acclimation is that starfish have a unique vascular system that uses water like hydraulic fluid. A sudden change in salinity or pressure can cause damage to this system so slow acclimation is important. If its a deep tank dont drop them to the bottom when they are released just put them on the top rocks. Some starfish can take the changes more easily but linkias I have found are more sensitive to these changes. Feeding is also difficult as linkias normally do not accept food directly. Blue linkias always seem to have the most difficulty with shipping so its not uncommon to see them waste away. Orange linkias and Purple linkias seem to be a little more forgiving when they are shipped.

 

[evolved]

Orange linkias and Purple linkias

Actually, those aren't Linckias, but Echinaster and Tamaria species.

 

[Tahoe61]

Excellent article that goes to show we really know very little about some of the most common starfish we see on the market.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/5/inverts


I should also emphasize that I do not think that the majority of dealers are making a deliberate attempt to mislead you when this sort of misidentification happens, but I would argue that very few retailers know the biology of these animals well enough to identify them or predict the potential risks of introducing them into a reef tank

I have seen videos of the Blue Linckia eating Asterina stars, clams......a common thought is that they feed to a large degree on the bio-film on rock, glass and substrate. That means a tank needs a lot of area to grow that bio-film, that nutritional need can only be met in a larger established tank with significant rock work.

There is always the exception, but over all I personally feel that this particular invert is not appropriate for collection and distribution. Few survive long term in a hobbyist system compared to the number that perish.

 

[AlexG]

Actually, those aren't Linckias, but Echinaster and Tamaria species.

Thanks for the information on those starfish. I dont think I ever had a book that detailed all 3 of these starfish. Another case of common names mixing species together as one group.

 

[Esage]

I've always heard that Linkia's can't be exposed to air, but other stars are okay. I'm seeing people here say that they can be exposed to air. Can anyone provide links to this information?

I had one just shy of three years, it would expose itself to air all the time.

 

[joesreeftank]

I have had my Blue star fish for about a year and it seems to be fine, I do not remember taking any extra caution when introducing it to my tank because I did not know i should. If its Okay for a year think I could expect it to continue to be okay? I have a 120Gal with a 40 Gal sump?

Thank You

 

[Tahoe61]

If you have had it 1 year already that is excellent, your tank is a good size. Are you feeding it at all, anything you're offering it?

 

[joesreeftank]

I am not sure if I am feeding it, I feed my tank, Phyto Feast and Oyster feast and Rods Frozen food.. Seems like when I do this every one is happy? I just keep doing what works I really do not understand why it works. Please take a look at the photos I posted back when I joined and let me know what you think? Joe

 

[joesreeftank]

I have had my Blue star fish for about a year and it seems to be fine, I do not remember taking any extra caution when introducing it to my tank because I did not know i should. If its Okay for a year think I could expect it to continue to be okay? I have a 120Gal with a 40 Gal sump?

Thank You

Thank You