Feeding seastars: PLEASE HELP.

[Lithy]

I just purchased a Linckia Laevigata (blue Linckia) and a Burgundy Sea Star (Tamaria sp). I knew about the required slow acclimation and did my best taking over 4 hours and using a drip method. However, my 100g is newly established and I am afraid these guys will starve.

They have crawled up the glass to the top of the tank just below the surface of the water. The tamaria has not moved since I introduced them (2 days). The Linckia has explored more of the glass but none the substrate. Clearly there is no food for these scavengers where they currently are. On the substrate they may find plenty of algae and other meat foods I can offer.

I have been told to feed them small pieces of shrimp but I am not sure how to do that as I would have to pry them from the glass (gently) and try to offer a small piece. Should I try that? What's the best way?

In general what should the best feeding routine be for these beautiful animals to maximize the chance of success? Is it normal for these "scavengers" to just park themselves as far from the substrate as possible and not move much?

Thanks!

 

[ginger7286]

seastars

seastars

I am very new to this also, but I know acclimation can take more than two days. As long as they are moving they are probably okay. Once they get back to the substrate I would attempt the shrimp feeding. Good Luck.

 

[romunov]

No one really knows what they eat. Most of the stars starve in about 18 months or less.

 

[Lithy]

Thanks ginger7286.
Who has experience with these types of star fish? What fraction of the time do they spend on the glass vs. on the substrate looking for food? How often do they eat?

 

[billsreef]

Both those stars are known to be "deposit" feeders. Essentially that means the scrape undetermined matter from the surface of live rock. As a result, they typically starve in anything other than a large well established reef tank. Bits of food like shrimp are unfortunately not accepted by them.

 

[Lithy]

Thanks Bill. I gently moved them from the glass to the substrate and they crawled (fairly healthily IMHO) to hiding spaces behing the rocks. Hopefully they will find something there.

 

[graveyardworm]

I would be concerned tht at 1 month old your tanks parameters are going to contiue to fluctuate while the tank cycle balances, and this stress may be detrimental to the seastars as well.

 

[Lithy]

Hello-
I wanted to post an update on my stars and ask a question of aquarists who have Linckias and Tamarias.

They have been hiding some and moving around the tank some. They seem to be doing ok for now. They do spend time slowly sliding on the rock, I assume looking for (and hopefully finding) food.

I still am seeing the weird behavior though. At one point or another they have each crawled up the glass and just parked themselves just below the water line. I leave them alone there for a day or so but have then had to detach them gently and lay them on the substrate. They slowly crawl to a spot on the rocks.

Now I am beginning to wonder if they actually know how to "get down". If they wanted to, do they know how to slide back down the glass the way they went up? Not sure. It reminds me of a kitten who climbs a tree and then is too scared to come down.

Who has experience with these star fish? Is this climbing behavior normal? Do they crawl down by themselves? My LFS guy tells me climbing up and "parking" is unusual behaviour and may be a sign of stress. Do you think he's right?

 

[finsurgeon]

Unfortunately, there is not likely to be anything for them to eat on your rocks yet, so it seems unlikely you'll have them over a few weeks. 8 to 12 months seems to be the minimum to develop sufficient "microsponge" or other coating on the live rock. They know how to get down from the glass - sometimes they climb and hang around the top for a day or 2, but my experience is that they don't go back down if they have no food. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The truth is, I found out the same way you are.

 

[wrasseguy2]

a 1 month old tank is not a good environment for these stars...they do not do well in tanks unless they are large well established tanks..know one really know what they eat and i agree with graveyardworm that a tank that is 1 month old is going to go through alot of changes and that might kill them...not to sound rude but you should have done some homework on these guys before buying them

 

[Lithy]

Thanks for your comments. I read that detritus eaters are good for new tanks, that they should be introduced with algae grazer in the beginning and that these guys fell in that category. I agree I should have researched these specific species more.

I am just trying to make the best for them now. I was just wondering if they knew hot to make their way back to the rocks. Those are covered with algae and other small critters they may find appetizing.

 

[wrasseguy2]

the starfish probably won't make it long in that tank...after your tank becomes mature and you want a starfish go with a brittle or serpent stars...chances of survival are alot better with those

 

[plummike]

Try returning them. Please don't take that wrong, really don't mean to be rude.
It is better to take them back or give to someone with an established tank to hold for you.

 

[reefgrief]

I have blue linkia in a 150g ( 1yr old) with about 250# live rock..
It climbs on most everything, including a floating basket that holds chaeto.. it will spend time at top of the water level, often remaining several hours in one spot. I can not say for sure what it eats, but it shows no signs of stress ( decay or spots, lost arms etc.) Take heart, once your tank settles in it should do fine.

About 3 months ago I brought home an orange linkia from a lfs which had lost 4 legs... They are now regenerating.. so it must be happy.. If your lfs wont take the linkia back, you may be able to trade it with a member for coral or some such thing. Ask

 

[Doglover_50]

If you don't want to take the starfish back or donate to someone with well established tank, how about this:

Find a reefer in your area with a very well established tank who is selling off their rock. In our area 50 bucks would probably get you maybe 20-25 pounds of rock---maybe enough to feed your stars.

I've had my blue linckia for 3 weeks---he never comes of the rock, moves around pretty slowly.