Having difficulty keeping Linckia Sea Stars

DSDoyle · 08/22/2017, 09:52 PM

Hello,

I do not know what the problem is, but I am having issues keeping Linckias alive. My water tests as follows:

Salinity: 1.023
pH: 8.1-8.3
Alk: 120
Cal: 400
Par (bottom to top): 300-1000

Over heard the years, I have been told Linckias do not do well with air but lately I have heard differently plus I notice they "skim" the surface of the water (there is not an oxygen issue).

Please advise.

Have a great day,

Don

ca1ore · 08/22/2017, 10:01 PM

The 'problem' is that they are extraordinarily hard to keep - even for expert reefers. They don't handle shipping well and are almost always either already starving when you buy them or get that way shortly thereafter. Once they begin to disintegrate, they're gunners. Best left in the ocean.

lagatbezan · 08/22/2017, 10:08 PM

They are really hard to keep alive and have poor success rating mainly because it's not really known what they eat. It's believed they eat the clear film on live rock hence requiring a really large mature tank. they just don't do well in captivity.

DSDoyle · 08/22/2017, 10:23 PM

Is there a way to "promote" or cultivate the film algae?

Cliving1 · 08/23/2017, 05:12 AM

I had a blue in college, wad lucky bc it ate my large sponge population. Not sure what else it really ate. They are as mentioned above, noted to be one of the most difficult to care for.

08/22/2017, 09:52 PM	#1
DSDoyle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 52	Having difficulty keeping Linckia Sea Stars Hello, I do not know what the problem is, but I am having issues keeping Linckias alive. My water tests as follows: Salinity: 1.023 pH: 8.1-8.3 Alk: 120 Cal: 400 Par (bottom to top): 300-1000 Over heard the years, I have been told Linckias do not do well with air but lately I have heard differently plus I notice they "skim" the surface of the water (there is not an oxygen issue). Please advise. Have a great day, Don

08/22/2017, 10:01 PM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	The 'problem' is that they are extraordinarily hard to keep - even for expert reefers. They don't handle shipping well and are almost always either already starving when you buy them or get that way shortly thereafter. Once they begin to disintegrate, they're gunners. Best left in the ocean. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

08/22/2017, 10:08 PM	#3
lagatbezan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,109	They are really hard to keep alive and have poor success rating mainly because it's not really known what they eat. It's believed they eat the clear film on live rock hence requiring a really large mature tank. they just don't do well in captivity. __________________ Ryan. 300g with velocity t4 for return and a Reflo dart on a closed loop, T5 lights & SRO3000 skimmer. Current Tank Info: 300g

08/22/2017, 10:23 PM	#4
DSDoyle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 52	Is there a way to "promote" or cultivate the film algae?

08/23/2017, 05:12 AM	#5
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	I had a blue in college, wad lucky bc it ate my large sponge population. Not sure what else it really ate. They are as mentioned above, noted to be one of the most difficult to care for.