- Location
- NY
Ok, time for you guys to hear one of my infamous storytelling episodes. lol
About a year and a half ago, June, 04, I picked up a Linckia Multiflora. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this species, here is a pic of mine, in my tank:
Well about 6 or 7 months went by, and about Dec. '04 - Jan. '05 my Linckia suddenly changed. From the full five legs long legs he dropped 1/2 a leg. Now he had 4.5 legs. The other 1/2 leg was visible, which in and of itself is hard to believe because in a 75 gallon tank with 130 lbs of LR, it could have fallen off anywhere.
Well anyway, after watching the 1/2 leg for a few days, it appeared that it was actually moving (locomotion is what they call it). The movement was only about 1/2" per week. So this was unbelievably slow. However, it was alive.
As time went on, months mind you, the leg didn't get longer, but it did develop short legs on it, extremely tiny, microscopic even. One day it eventually made its way to the glass and I was able to get a pic of it from underneath. I already posted that pic in another thread, but here it is again:
Now keep in mind, it took about 4 months from the time the leg fell off till it got to the point of regenerating new legs (called a comet). Unfortunately my tank fell victim to flatworms last May/June '05. I was extremely diligent about siphoning out as many FW's as possible for a few days before I started FWE treatment. This was to minimize the amount of toxins released by the dying/dead FW's.
I ran carbon very aggressively and did major water changes after the FWE treatment. I repeated the process about 3 days later, then one week later. I have been 100% FW free since then. From my observations, the only casualties I experienced were my Linckia's. I haven't seen either the mother, who dropped the leg, or the comet, since June '05.
Today is Feb. 2 (groundhogs day and not Bill Murray's), and believe it or not, I just saw for the first time in eight months the comet. However, it is no longer a comet! All five legs are about 1" long and it is just a starfish now! :icon16: .
Funny thing is, just the other day I was over at house's house and telling him about the FWE story and my only losses. And today I find the missing comet. Gotta tell you, I've very psyched about this.
Another thing that's so wierd is, I look at my tank A LOT. Day and night (red LED headlamp, yes I'm a reef geek) and I have NOT seen hide nor hair of either Linckia for eight months. The spot I saw it just now was not conducive to getting a pic of it. But rest assured I will get a pic next time he's in the open!!
Well that's it for my long winded diatribe. I'm hoping that the rest of my reefing buddies are able to appreciate my excitement as much as I am. I called my wife at work to tell her........her reaction was a less than ecstatic woo hoo :sigh1: .
About a year and a half ago, June, 04, I picked up a Linckia Multiflora. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this species, here is a pic of mine, in my tank:
Well about 6 or 7 months went by, and about Dec. '04 - Jan. '05 my Linckia suddenly changed. From the full five legs long legs he dropped 1/2 a leg. Now he had 4.5 legs. The other 1/2 leg was visible, which in and of itself is hard to believe because in a 75 gallon tank with 130 lbs of LR, it could have fallen off anywhere.
Well anyway, after watching the 1/2 leg for a few days, it appeared that it was actually moving (locomotion is what they call it). The movement was only about 1/2" per week. So this was unbelievably slow. However, it was alive.
As time went on, months mind you, the leg didn't get longer, but it did develop short legs on it, extremely tiny, microscopic even. One day it eventually made its way to the glass and I was able to get a pic of it from underneath. I already posted that pic in another thread, but here it is again:
Now keep in mind, it took about 4 months from the time the leg fell off till it got to the point of regenerating new legs (called a comet). Unfortunately my tank fell victim to flatworms last May/June '05. I was extremely diligent about siphoning out as many FW's as possible for a few days before I started FWE treatment. This was to minimize the amount of toxins released by the dying/dead FW's.
I ran carbon very aggressively and did major water changes after the FWE treatment. I repeated the process about 3 days later, then one week later. I have been 100% FW free since then. From my observations, the only casualties I experienced were my Linckia's. I haven't seen either the mother, who dropped the leg, or the comet, since June '05.
Today is Feb. 2 (groundhogs day and not Bill Murray's), and believe it or not, I just saw for the first time in eight months the comet. However, it is no longer a comet! All five legs are about 1" long and it is just a starfish now! :icon16: .
Funny thing is, just the other day I was over at house's house and telling him about the FWE story and my only losses. And today I find the missing comet. Gotta tell you, I've very psyched about this.
Another thing that's so wierd is, I look at my tank A LOT. Day and night (red LED headlamp, yes I'm a reef geek) and I have NOT seen hide nor hair of either Linckia for eight months. The spot I saw it just now was not conducive to getting a pic of it. But rest assured I will get a pic next time he's in the open!!
Well that's it for my long winded diatribe. I'm hoping that the rest of my reefing buddies are able to appreciate my excitement as much as I am. I called my wife at work to tell her........her reaction was a less than ecstatic woo hoo :sigh1: .
