Saving a Starving Linkia?

[hfmann]

I've had a blue Linkia for a couple of years now. Over the past several months it's been shrinking. Tonight for the first time I noticed one of his arms has become decidely shorter than the others. Is it starving? And what to do?

Hal
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[Anonymous]

What are you feeding it and how often?
As far as the shorter arm it could have suffered an injury to that appendage and it is regenerating it.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[hfmann]

What are you feeding it and how often?

uh...well...I don't feed it. I was operating under the belief that it lived off the detritus, algae, and other sources provided byt the reef itself. It's in a 125 gallon, Berlin system reef with about 4" dsb. Is there a way to feed it directly?

Hal
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[Anonymous]

What are you feeding it and how often?

uh...well...I don't feed it. I was operating under the belief that it lived off the detritus, algae, and other sources provided byt the reef itself. It's in a 125 gallon, Berlin system reef with about 4" dsb. Is there a way to feed it directly?

Hal

Try feeding it one of the frozen preparations for angelfish that contain algae and sponge, also small pieces of meaty foods such as crab, shrimp, clam, etc. placed directly underneath it.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[rayjay]

According to Rob Toonen, what linckia feed on is not known. Suspicion is that they feed of the "scum" or film that develops on everything in the tank.
On several posts in Shimeks column before he left it, Ron said it was best to leave these starfish in the ocean, as most won't survive.
Robs article in A.A. Mag Online is the best write up I've seen on these stars.
ROB TOONEN ON LINCKIA

 

[Anonymous]

Something to consider: a new chunk of LR from an online source like Premium Aquatics. I suspect he'll be all over it. My blue is now well over 3 years in my 180...I have no idea what I am doing right. But I do get a new piece of LR every once in a while, and he spends days on it.

I could be completely off base, but that's my experience.

 

[drbdc]

2 years is one of the longest times I've ever heard of someone having one. They are best left in the ocean as you can't provide food for them. They slowly die of malnutrition over about just a year. Occationally someone will have one for more so consider yourself lucky.

 

[Anonymous]

Unless they are becoming rare in the wild I see no real harm in having them and learning how to care for them and maybe someday have them reproduce in acptivity. Remember when breeding marine fish was a big deal?

 

[hfmann]

Wow! 2 years is about all I can expect, huh? Darn, seems a shame. And apparently there's a fair amount of controversy over whether these can be kept adequately.

Suspicion is that they feed of the "scum" or film that develops on everything in the tank.

I've certainly got enough of that "stuff". So maybe its not starving after all. Maybe just old age.

I'm going to give that new piece of Live Rock a try. Nice idea Chris. Even if it doesn't help the Linckia, I think it might add some biodiversity from whatever comes along with it. While I'm waiting for the rock to show up, I'll try feeding it directly David. Thanks.

Unless they are becoming rare in the wild I see no real harm in having them and learning how to care for them and maybe someday have them reproduce in acptivity. Remember when breeding marine fish was a big deal?

I agree with you Andy, but until my husbandry skills are more advanced, I think I'll stay away from them for the near future.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Hal
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[rayjay]

All scums are not alike. What you have in your tank doesn't necessarily mean it's the scum that the star needs to eat for survival.