blue starfish

funkpolice · 02-23-2008, 05:49 PM

I was at the lfs a little while ago and they had a few blue starfish for sale. They looked really nice, and would add some need color to my tank, but I resisted the temptation until I could do some research. I googled blue starfish and came up with Linkia laevigata, I think this is what they were. Does anyone here have any experience with these?

blue_eyes53813 · 02-23-2008, 06:12 PM

Starfish need a well established tank. Lots of liverock. There is alot of debate on what they actually eat. Mine is always on the liverock and seems to like the dirtier areas of the tank. If they dont have the needed food supply they have a slow death. They will starve.

They also need to be acclimated to the tank VERY VERY VERY slow. I slow dripped mine for at least 3-4 hours. They are very hard to acclimate. Most times this is the cause of there deaths as well. Make sure if/when you get one they are chubby(to say) and dont have a wrinkled look to them. Wrinkles can mean a sign of starving and they will be very hard to get to eat again.. The feel of them should almost be like the finger on our hands. soft or soggy feeling and they arent healthy. also make sure they dont have any sores or opening. They are very delicate animals.

zy112 · 02-23-2008, 06:38 PM

Acclimation takes forever and I think they are hard to keep long term. If you do get one take 8 hours to acclimate.

BoomerD · 02-23-2008, 07:36 PM

Seastars2

"Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus 1758), Linckia, Linckia... Seastar. Blue and greenish ones in Fiji. Also found in other colors, brown, tans, violet to burgundy, even mottled... And there are other species of the genus offered to the trade. This animal is very (95+ % IME) often doomed from the retailer to aquarists... having suffered too much damage and neglect in the process of collection, holding, shipping... Look for damage (ex. right) and avoid such obviously poor specimens. In the wild this is an algae, bacteria, detritus feeder... that needs space (hundreds of gallons) and mulm (muck, dirt, call it what you will, on the bottom of its system to survive. My advice, look to other genera, species of seastars."

Dentoid · 02-23-2008, 07:55 PM

The Fromia species are smaller and tend to do better in captivity.

funkpolice · 02-24-2008, 09:44 AM

thanks to everyone, especially boomer. I don't think I'll buy one seeing as my tank is only 55 gal and not muddy. I wish I was more informed earlier, a lady at the store the same time as me bought two of these starfish for her 30 gal. thanks again, I'll check out fromia.
bill

lcstorc · 02-24-2008, 11:13 AM

The perfect storc of why you research before buying.
Congrats to you fo doing your research.

funkpolice · 02-24-2008, 03:15 PM

well I looked into fromias and they don't seem to be a good aquarium candidate either. I only have a 55gal tank so I guess there aren't any starfish suitable for me. thanks anyways guys.
bill

tbittner · 02-24-2008, 06:49 PM

Brittles, sand sifters. Not beautifully colored like the Linkia's, but fascinating to watch.

BoomerD · 02-25-2008, 09:53 AM

Even the sand sifters aren't recommended for a small tank like that.
In a conversation with Anthony Calfo a few years back, he opined that one sand sifter would be ok in a tank of about 200 gallons, IF there is lots of open sand among the rockwork, otherwise, they just starve and waste away.

Triggerjay · 02-25-2008, 12:06 PM

I have one sandsifter, that I transfered from my 29g, to my 55g, and on to my 125,... 2 years, and still kicking..GJ on the research before purchase!

Jason

02-23-2008, 05:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
funkpolice Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 751 View Gallery Karma Komment	blue starfish I was at the lfs a little while ago and they had a few blue starfish for sale. They looked really nice, and would add some need color to my tank, but I resisted the temptation until I could do some research. I googled blue starfish and came up with Linkia laevigata, I think this is what they were. Does anyone here have any experience with these?

02-23-2008, 06:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 7,142 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: blue starfish Starfish need a well established tank. Lots of liverock. There is alot of debate on what they actually eat. Mine is always on the liverock and seems to like the dirtier areas of the tank. If they dont have the needed food supply they have a slow death. They will starve. They also need to be acclimated to the tank VERY VERY VERY slow. I slow dripped mine for at least 3-4 hours. They are very hard to acclimate. Most times this is the cause of there deaths as well. Make sure if/when you get one they are chubby(to say) and dont have a wrinkled look to them. Wrinkles can mean a sign of starving and they will be very hard to get to eat again.. The feel of them should almost be like the finger on our hands. soft or soggy feeling and they arent healthy. also make sure they dont have any sores or opening. They are very delicate animals. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

02-23-2008, 06:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
zy112 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: IN Posts: 984 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: blue starfish Acclimation takes forever and I think they are hard to keep long term. If you do get one take 8 hours to acclimate. __________________ Zach

02-23-2008, 07:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: blue starfish Seastars2 "Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus 1758), Linckia, Linckia... Seastar. Blue and greenish ones in Fiji. Also found in other colors, brown, tans, violet to burgundy, even mottled... And there are other species of the genus offered to the trade. This animal is very (95+ % IME) often doomed from the retailer to aquarists... having suffered too much damage and neglect in the process of collection, holding, shipping... Look for damage (ex. right) and avoid such obviously poor specimens. In the wild this is an algae, bacteria, detritus feeder... that needs space (hundreds of gallons) and mulm (muck, dirt, call it what you will, on the bottom of its system to survive. My advice, look to other genera, species of seastars." __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

02-23-2008, 07:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,597 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: blue starfish The Fromia species are smaller and tend to do better in captivity. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

02-24-2008, 09:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
funkpolice Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 751 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: blue starfish thanks to everyone, especially boomer. I don't think I'll buy one seeing as my tank is only 55 gal and not muddy. I wish I was more informed earlier, a lady at the store the same time as me bought two of these starfish for her 30 gal. thanks again, I'll check out fromia. bill

02-24-2008, 11:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,727 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: blue starfish The perfect storc of why you research before buying. Congrats to you fo doing your research. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

02-24-2008, 03:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
funkpolice Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 751 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: blue starfish well I looked into fromias and they don't seem to be a good aquarium candidate either. I only have a 55gal tank so I guess there aren't any starfish suitable for me. thanks anyways guys. bill

02-24-2008, 06:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: blue starfish Brittles, sand sifters. Not beautifully colored like the Linkia's, but fascinating to watch. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

02-25-2008, 09:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: blue starfish Even the sand sifters aren't recommended for a small tank like that. In a conversation with Anthony Calfo a few years back, he opined that one sand sifter would be ok in a tank of about 200 gallons, IF there is lots of open sand among the rockwork, otherwise, they just starve and waste away. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

02-25-2008, 12:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
Triggerjay Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 2,068 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: blue starfish I have one sandsifter, that I transfered from my 29g, to my 55g, and on to my 125,... 2 years, and still kicking..GJ on the research before purchase! Jason __________________ The start of my journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...xperience.html My current journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ld-thread.html My clownfish breeding log: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ne-fishes.html

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