What's wrong with my linkia?

[winschuc]

It keeps curling up into a ball. The peppermint shrimp pick at it a little bit. Is it ok? Or is it dying.

 

[forestal]

To my knowledge linkia are very hard to care for and little is known of their diet, they may take a year to starve to death so often they look pretty are sold all the time as if they are easy

 

[Mrsalt]

1+ to the above. Also they can be extremely difficult to acclimatise taking half a day of dripping water.


http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/83315-als-red-sea-650-a.html[url]

 

[winschuc]

Ok, thanks. Guess ill keep an eye on it for a few more days and pull it if things go further south. Funny thing is that I any seem to find any info on this balling up behavior anywhere.

 

[Mike Johnson]

They do that when they are laying eggs, but don't know if that's the case here? Look at the very bottom of his link:

http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/Hitchhikers_Guide_to_the_Reef_Tank

 

[Mrsalt]

Interesting mike, I've only experienced losing a starfish by blown legs when I tried to keep a blue linkia about 10 odd years ago. I had it several months then it rapidly deteriorated.

So waiting this one out would be the correct course off action winschuc. At least till you know more.


http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/83315-als-red-sea-650-a.html[url]

 

[winschuc]

It looks like that one is propping up. Mine is literally wrapped in a ball at the bottom. I'll see what happens, looks like it won't last long, but hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[winschuc]

Back to normal.

 

[Mrsalt]

Having a bit of starfish flu, its like manflu but worse? Perhaps it ate a dodgy shrimp or something...


http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/83315-als-red-sea-650-a.html[url]

 

[winschuc]

Rip starfish

 

[whippetguy]

Darn, sorry to hear that.

 

[Mrsalt]

Sorry too, I thought it had recovered ?


http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/83315-als-red-sea-650-a.html[url]

 

[winschuc]

It did for a day. Woke up and it was dead. The only thing I can think is that my peppermint shrimp beat it to death.

 

[Steve L]

I tried a red one a few months ago and it was dead within a few weeks. It started off with what looked like a small wound on one leg then it gradually got bigger. Finally I noticed it just never moved and I pulled it.

LFS's just love selling beautiful critters that won't live more than a few weeks after you buy them. Doing your own research before buying anything pays off in the long run.

 

[gbose]

I've had no luck with Starfish either. I had a sand-sifter and a fromia; both died after about 6 months.....researched and found they really need a larger tank (I have a RSM130).

 

[winschuc]

Its really annoying, I've got an 8" brittle and a serpent about the same size. They've been doing fine for months. I guess it was just the luck of the draw. Similar to my clam

It's unfortunate, but I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has had problems with stars.

 

[winschuc]

One of the worst parts was flushing it. I was honestly scared it would get stuck, since it's so rigid, and I would have to explain to the wife why an orange leg was poking out of the bowl. Especially when I sent her this a few days ago.

 

[Mrsalt]

That's one mean looking snake


http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/83315-als-red-sea-650-a.html[url]