Can anyone actually keep a linckia starfish alive?

[reefz]

I once bought a beautiful blue linckia starfish a few years ago, and it died the next day. My lfs says they cannot even keep linkias and a lot of what I read online says they will just die no matter what. Now that I’m far more experienced in this hobby, I would love to try to keep one in the future.

So has anyone actually kept these beautiful creatures in our home aquariums? If so, what did you do for them to survive?

 

[Tamberav]

If you have a very large mature tank then you may have a chance at keeping one long term.

Otherwise generally a year or few short years. Their lifespan in wild is something like 10+ years but more like 1-2 in captive aquaria.

A quick death means probably a acclimation issue somewhere along the chain from collection to your tank.

 

[austibella]

I have had mine about 5 yrs maybe more .but my 180 tank is 10 yrs

 

[austibella]

I once bought a beautiful blue linckia starfish a few years ago, and it died the next day. My lfs says they cannot even keep linkias and a lot of what I read online says they will just die no matter what. Now that I’m far more experienced in this hobby, I would love to try to keep one in the future.

So has anyone actually kept these beautiful creatures in our home aquariums? If so, what did you do for them to survive?

So sad you lost your blue starfish and especially the next day. I posted pics of mine in the post.he just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I have alot of live rock for all of mine. Not sure what I am doing right but mine have survived for 5 yrs +... I do feed my fish and corals cut up fresh fish, shrimp and oyster eggs and a little of everything. I know I don't want to eat the same thing every day so I feed my aquarium different foods. I also overfeeding so my CUC gets food also. And I have a good system to get rid of waste. I also blow off my rocks everyday. I think a lot of times people under feed to keep a tank clean but then there is not enough food for the CUC causing death to them.

 

[reefz]

I have had mine about 5 yrs maybe more .but my 180 tank is 10 yrs

10 Years!! Wow amazing!

 

[reefz]

So sad you lost your blue starfish and especially the next day. I posted pics of mine in the post.he just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I have alot of live rock for all of mine. Not sure what I am doing right but mine have survived for 5 yrs +... I do feed my fish and corals cut up fresh fish, shrimp and oyster eggs and a little of everything. I know I don't want to eat the same thing every day so I feed my aquarium different foods. I also overfeeding so my CUC gets food also. And I have a good system to get rid of waste. I also blow off my rocks everyday. I think a lot of times people under feed to keep a tank clean but then there is not enough food for the CUC causing death to them.

It seems that people have a higher chance of keeping one if their tank is very old. My oldest tank is now been running almost 3 years, so maybe it’s possible. I love the overfeeding you mentioned, that’s what keeps my tank so healthy. As long as you have nutrient export management, overfeeding is a big key to success.

 

[CanuckReefer]

I had tried in the past years back with Linckia,twice. The tank was 10 or so years at the time. Lasted about 6-9 months each one. It was then I decided, best left to the ocean. Those that have had success, I say Bravo, and keep going. They are a beautiful star....my tank runs a bit 'dirtier' now, would they survive? Tempted but nah....I'd likely kill one again.

 

[CanuckReefer]

I have had mine about 5 yrs maybe more .but my 180 tank is 10 yrs

Awesome, you have had success. Are you nutrient higher/ lower?

 

[austibella]

Awesome, you have had success. Are you nutrient higher/ lower?

My nutrients are higher i don't chase numbers anymore . I use to freak out if my numbers were off. They need algae , I have explosions of copepods . I changed from sand to crush coral which gives thousands of places for copepods to breed, plus I can have high flow without worrying about sand blowing. all my stars walk all over the crushed coral and rocks. I also have huge serpents snmy brittle star is bigger than a dinner plate! I have to look for that pic. He hides but I can see him at night with a flashlight

 

[Cory]

One variable from different aquarists would be silicate. Its possible high silicate tanks support these animals as diatoms kick start the food chain.

 

[reefz]

One variable from different aquarists would be silicate. Its possible high silicate tanks support these animals as diatoms kick start the food chain.

Yeah true.

 

[CanuckReefer]

My nutrients are higher i don't chase numbers anymore . I use to freak out if my numbers were off. They need algae , I have explosions of copepods . I changed from sand to crush coral which gives thousands of places for copepods to breed, plus I can have high flow without worrying about sand blowing. all my stars walk all over the crushed coral and rocks. I also have huge serpents snmy brittle star is bigger than a dinner plate! I have to look for that pic. He hides but I can see him at night with a flashlight

I'm with you....my numbers are dictated by tank success now. Oh my! The brittle mine not that huge but thriving. I can't find mine either lol. I do love my inverts, Pincushion and short spine black urchins, Tiger Sea Cucumber, Strawberry Conch, numerous others. I love it.

 

[Lavey29]

I have had 2 in my tank for a few months but sometimes they drink to much tequila.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Somebody gonna jump on me and that's cool, but imo why are we here with so little success with this species? Credit to those that have had success, no less, but it is so rare.... Some things are just better off where they lie no??? They are magnificent in their intricacy as a species....maybe they just stay in the ocean, you put on the mask and watch them there....I see them in my LFS's and think, likely you are gonna die, unless you get perfect parameters, the right spot. I'm all for researching how to keep them same time....it's a double edged sword. At least they shouldn't be encouraged by any LFS or online site other than experienced reefer..... Pipe dream.

 

[Lavey29]

Somebody gonna jump on me and that's cool, but imo why are we here with so little success with this species? Credit to those that have had success, no less, but it is so rare.... Some things are just better off where they lie no??? They are magnificent in their intricacy as a species....maybe they just stay in the ocean, you put on the mask and watch them there....I see them in my LFS's and think, likely you are gonna die, unless you get perfect parameters, the right spot. I'm all for researching how to keep them same time....it's a double edged sword. At least they shouldn't be encouraged by any LFS or online site other than experienced reefer..... Pipe dream.

While I agree with your vision if we were to adopt it then ideally there would be no reef tanks. All fish and corals would be left to the beauty of the ocean as nature wants correct?

 

[CanuckReefer]

While I agree with your vision if we were to adopt it then ideally there would be no reef tanks. All fish and corals would be left to the beauty of the ocean as nature wants correct?

Well yes, agreed....if we could manage to eliminate the urge, the play by LFS to sell this species other than experienced reefer that would be utopia, it isn't happening tomorrow or ever....

 

[CanuckReefer]

While I agree with your vision if we were to adopt it then ideally there would be no reef tanks. All fish and corals would be left to the beauty of the ocean as nature wants correct?

And side note....keep those two alive. I support it on the whole if you have the wherewithal, many are duped and don't..

 

[Lavey29]

Well yes, agreed....if we could manage to eliminate the urge, the play by LFS to sell this species other than experienced reefer that would be utopia, it isn't happening tomorrow or ever....

They actually are pretty rare to find at my LFS. They do not receive them regularly at all and when they do its only a few it seems,

 

[austibella]

I had no idea people have a hard time keeping blue, red and orange stars mine are thriving. Sometimes I won't see them for a week and I worry they died but then I will see them and like I said earlier I have them more then 5 yrs plus.. I don't keep my parameters perfect, I find everything thrives better if I dont, I feed alot of food change my filter socks everyday, and I have a good filtration system. I have many stars. 10 urchins and going to get more they do a great job. I did loose my sea hare due to my wave pump I was so upset. Need to get another one they are so cool. I do blow off the rocks after the last feeding everyday. . But I feed fresh fish, shrimp, etc or frozen. I do feed pellets but not as much as fresh food. One thing the stars love is Kent's microvert, they will come out from the rocks especially the serpents and brittle stars ,their arms come out swinging for it. I switch from Reef roids, reef chili, coral Amino polup lab, phyto Plan. You name it I have it. Everyday my fish, coral, and CUC get different foods. I figure in the ocean they don't eat the same food every day , so why would I do it in my tank .

 

[austibella]

I had no idea people have a hard time keeping blue, red and orange stars mine are thriving. Sometimes I won't see them for a week and I worry they died but then I will see them and like I said earlier I have them more then 5 yrs plus.. I don't keep my parameters perfect, I find everything thrives better if I dont, I feed alot of food change my filter socks everyday, and I have a good filtration system. I have many stars. 10 urchins and going to get more they do a great job. I did loose my sea hare due to my wave pump I was so upset. Need to get another one they are so cool. I do blow off the rocks after the last feeding everyday. . But I feed fresh fish, shrimp, etc or frozen. I do feed pellets but not as much as fresh food. One thing the stars love is Kent's microvert, they will come out from the rocks especially the serpents and brittle stars ,their arms come out swinging for it. I switch from Reef roids, reef chili, coral Amino polup lab, phyto Plan. You name it I have it. Everyday my fish, coral, and CUC get different foods. I figure in the ocean they don't eat the same food every day , so why would I do it in my tank .

I just thought of something else. Living in south Florida my A/C is on pretty much 24/7 I don't use a heater in my tanks .my tank temperature is always 80 or 81. If it jumps higher I always keep blocks of frozen R/O water in the freezer. Incase I need to cool the tank down.I know many reefers keep their tanks in the 70's maybe that's why the death rate is so high for blue stars. My water is warm and my stars thrive. would love to know the temperature of tanks that had the loss of stars just wondering...