[Poppinthekap]

I just purchased a blue starfish that I had little knowledge about. I have now been reading up on them how they can knock over corals and their care level is for experts. I have had a reef tank for a year now and don't consider myself an expert. This starfish is about maximum size. Any help to care for this starfish with little disruption of my corals?

Thanks,
Poppinthekap

[jimw369]

Blue Linkia?

[Poppinthekap]

Yes, it's a blue linkia

[mwieczorek43]

They're considered difficult but as long as you keep close tabs on your water levels etc. you're good. Seeing that you've had a tank for a year now, i assume you've figured-out how to do so. Keep your salt, oxygen, and pH numbers level... they're actually pretty hardy.

[c-c]

I had a blue linckia, which I loved to watch crawl across my aquarium glass. He was only about 7 inches across. He lived over a year, eating meaty foods, like small pieces of silversides, krill, etc. which I slipped in between his center disc and the glass. He never disturbed my live rock. The books (shimek's pocket guide) says they grow to 16" across. Is yours that size? Shimek also says they need a large 100 gal. tank, but mine seemed happy and well fed in our 55 gal. The say that blue linckia don't survive over 18 months in a closed system but die of starvation. I pinched mine up against the glass while rearranging my rock work, and didn't realize it until a few days later... but if I wouldn't have killed it by that slow tortuous crushing death (accidentally) I would like to think he would have lived longer. They say they are reef safe... I loved my blue linckia, good luck with yours!!!
(We have two serpent stars with our Reef Aquarium 65 gal. and they never leave the sand bed and help clean up extra food left over from feeding the LPS guys at night. VERY reef compatible.)
Keep us posted as to activity, eating patterns, mischievous behaviour, etc. .