Linckia Star fish arms falling off...

[knhassan]

In last 2-3 weeks 2nd arm has fallen off the Linckia Star Fish. Does anyone know what happening with the star, the arm just cutts off and drop on the bottom, she stays on the glass all the time and noone goes near her.

Meantime I have moved her into the fuge where ther is lot of algae and noone else (Just in case).

 

[Sk8r]

Your move may be good for her. Nobody knows what linckia eat. They usually thrive only in the largest, most established tanks, and nobody is quite sure why. The estimate is that they're a film eater of some sort.

 

[greenbean36191]

How long have you had the star? How was it acclimated? What size is your tank and how much rock is there? What is your salinity?

 

[knhassan]

About a month ago I upgraded from 30 to 65gallon tank. I had 30g for about a year. I have approx 36-40lb LR and 55lb Aroganite, sum is used from someone and has lots of coraline algae for him to graze on (I heard she eat algae and she is always on the glass).

 

[MoCha920]

sometimes when a starfish starts too loose its arms are due to rocks falling on them, fish nipping while starfish is moving or its lack of nutrients.

 

[ophiuroid]

Well, I would need to see a picture. How long did you have this star? If you have had it about a year - say 9 to 12 months, it could be dying of starvation. It could also be dying from acclimation shock from the tank change if it was not acclimated properly.

It is possible, but unlikely, that it is "arm dropping" for reproduction.

I am slow to give up hope on seastars, but the prognosis could be bad.

 

[knhassan]

Starfish

Starfish

I upgraded from 30 to 65g about 4 weeks ago, I had 30 for about a year. I got this Star from someone else about 2 weeks ago, he had it I think min 6 months. I will take and post pic tonight.

I acclimate it for approx an hour, its in my fuge now where there is a lot of algae. If its dying, is there any threat to my tank?

 

[ophiuroid]

It does not eat algae.

In all likelihood, this is acclimation shock. Monitor you water parameters for ammonia spikes, but otherwise it is not a threat. However, do not give up on the star too quickly either.

 

[knhassan]

Any recomendation on what to feed her. I heard putting Nori/seaweads under or around her.

 

[knhassan]

Is there a possibility that my Star is splitting? I didn't take the broken arm out and have noticed it grabing some sand on the little tanticles and changing locations (within 10") this morning I saw him half way up on the steep rock. Usually they are stiff but looks like bended and grabing the rock top side.

I will post pic tonight.

 

[ophiuroid]

They do not typically take to spot feeding but I would try anything you can think of.

It is possible it is splitting, but I don't consider it a huge possibility right now. There are other more logical explanations to what you are seeing and based on the time frame they are more likely. However, I do not rule anything out with these stars. Nonetheless the arms can continue to move around quite a lot.

What color is this Linckia?

 

[kryppy]

You will never see it eat anything. I have been watching mine for three years trying to figure it out.
I have watched it pass over sponges and algae also, that ain't it!
Good luck, they are alot stronger than people give them credit for.

 

[knhassan]

The star has splitted, I'm glad I didn't threw away the broken arm. As I mention in the earlier posts that I have spotted the arm in different positions/areas, today I saw it stuck to the glass 1" above the subtrate. Woohooo.... I haven't been able to take any pics yet, I will do my best and get 'em out now.

Mother start is in the sump and seems happy and active, should I move the child as well?

 

[kryppy]

That's awesome. Lets see some pics of the arm crawling around!!

 

[knhassan]

Here are the pics of both stars. Lets hope they live...

 

[knhassan]

Pics of the Stars

Pics of the Stars

Here are the pic of the Stars...

 

[Tangman1218]

That single arm is wicked looking! Congrats, you are the first ive seen have a linckia do this in captivity.

I bought mine in a similar situation (no broken off arms though.) I picked one up from someone (blue linckia) 6 days ago and it seems fine, but not as fat as when I got it. I think it has shock to get over. It is also not dissolving, which is good. It is about a year old (from other persons tank)and looks fine, but doesnt seem to move much. Sometimes it will stay put for over 12 hours. Could it be feeding from a direct spot on the LR?

Sorry, I dont mean to hijack your thread, but maybe we could all help each other out here. I will start another thread if you want me to.

Tang

 

[masterswimmer]

I have a Linckia Multiflora. Dropping arms is very common. Mine has done it several times. The arms will normally exhibit locomotion and crawl VERY SLOWLY around the tank. As the arm matures it will turn into what's called a comet. Here are a few pix of the mother, comet and tiny little one.

Momma:

Comet:

Baby:

HTH,
swimmer

 

[ophiuroid]

The last picture is actually an Asterina star, not a Linckia But the pictures and success are very nice to see.

Arm dropping in Linckia multiflora and Echinaster luzonicus is not uncommon in captivity at all. In other Linckia is far less common. I'm still out on this one...I am never quick to give up hope on Linckia so I hope that it is an "arm drop" but the odds of long term success in smaller, younger systems with that particular type is a bit worrisome.

Linckia multiflora is one of the "tougher" though that is relative, Linckia stars in this hobby.

 

[masterswimmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8584282#post8584282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ophiuroid
The last picture is actually an Asterina star, not a Linckia But the pictures and success are very nice to see.

Thanks for the input, but it is the Linckia. There is actually one long arm on the one in the third picture. Unfortunately it is the one behind the zoos (lower left). I've got dozens of asterina's in my tank as well.

swimmer