How rare is this starfish?

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

Hello!
I went to LFS and he has this beutifull red 6 inch starfish and claims it's very rare he wanted $60 buks for it. I bargained to 50. Is this really rare or was he BSing me?

Oldreefer44 · Mar 24, 2019

Looks like a Linkia to me. If orange then very common. $25 on line.

flchamp89 · Mar 24, 2019

Linckia

Now sure how rare. Fairly common online. Been in the trade for awhile.

James M · Mar 24, 2019

You got hustled . Those are worth $20 and dont do well in tanks

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

James M said:
You got hustled . Those are worth $20 and dont do well in tanks

Dam. U win some u lose some. He claims it was tank raised by ora.

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

I have always gotten amazing deals by this store. I never felt like he trying to rip me off

4FordFamily · Mar 24, 2019

sean rand said:
Dam. U win some u lose some. He claims it was tank raised by ora.

If that was true it might be worth $60 bucks. But I am 95% sure ORA doesn’t “tank raise” any starfish but especially not linckia. We can’t keep them alive in captivity let alone get them to reproduce.

I agree that LFS fed you a crock of crap. They’re common, and beautiful. Unfortunately they are generally short-lived in captivity.

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

4FordFamily said:
If that was true it might be worth $60 bucks. But I am 95% sure ORA doesn’t “tank raise” any starfish but especially not linckia. We can’t keep them alive in captivity let alone get them to reproduce.

I agree that LFS fed you a crock of crap. They’re common, and beautiful. Unfortunately they are generally short-lived in captivity.

Dam,should have posted here 1st

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

4FordFamily said:
If that was true it might be worth $60 bucks. But I am 95% sure ORA doesn’t “tank raise” any starfish but especially not linckia. We can’t keep them alive in captivity let alone get them to reproduce.

I agree that LFS fed you a crock of crap. They’re common, and beautiful. Unfortunately they are generally short-lived in captivity.

I check online I dont see them for sale on any website

Justfebreezeit · Mar 24, 2019

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+528+581&pcatid=581

Out of stock atm, but there it is.

Oldreefer44 · Mar 24, 2019

They come and go on line in numerous color varieties and ORA does not do starfish. Would take it back. When it dies in your tank it can foul the water pretty quickly.

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

I see on blue zoo they want $40 for the size I got. I paid 50

Philipgonzales3 · Mar 24, 2019

sean rand said:
I see on blue zoo they want $40 for the size I got. I paid 50

I don't think the main issue is the $50, rather the fact that it likely will die sooner than later and foul up the water. I wanted a star fish but from what I read most just don't do well in an aquarium.

samnaz · Mar 24, 2019

Either way you’ll be out $50 when it dies, probably soon... why not return it and buy something that’ll last?

Philipgonzales3 · Mar 24, 2019

samnaz said:
Either way you’ll be out $50 when it dies, probably soon... why not return it and buy something that’ll last?

Agreed even if it was worth 500 or whatever, from what I read they melt away somewhere between a few months and a year.

This is likely the reason you don't see starfish in everyones reef tank.

Phycodurus · Mar 24, 2019

Sean Rand, how long has your tank been established? That’ll factor greater with Linckia stars. Slow/drop-acclimation is a absolute necessity IMO. Look for *anything* that looks like even a slight tear in the skin (bad sign).

sean rand · Mar 24, 2019

Phycodurus said:
Sean Rand, how long has your tank been established? That’ll factor greater with Linckia stars. Slow/drop-acclimation is a absolute necessity IMO. Look for *anything* that looks like even a slight tear in the skin (bad sign).

My tank is a couple of months old. I already have a couple of starfish in the tank that r doing very well

Dr. Dendrostein · Mar 24, 2019

sean rand said:
Hello!
I went to LFS and he has this beutifull red 6 inch starfish and claims it's very rare he wanted $60 buks for it. I bargained to 50. Is this really rare or was he BSing me?

We all been there, I hate when told(lfs) certain corals from a region, and their not.

Philipgonzales3 · Mar 24, 2019

Jomama said:
We all been there, I hate when told(lfs) certain corals from a region, and their not.

I personally don't care about region or rarity at the moment. I buy what I think looks nice. I don't really care if I overpaid buy a few bucks or what not either. My happiness doesn't come from saving money. I know some people's does, just stating what I like lol.

saltyhog · Mar 24, 2019

sean rand said:
My tank is a couple of months old. I already have a couple of starfish in the tank that r doing very well

You should probably return it then. I've kept a blue Linckia for a little over 3 years but that was in a very mature tank with a lot of biofilm for him to feed on. They are hard to keep but definitely shouldn't be tried in a tank that's not mature.

Munching on an asterina