Linkia Stars

[The Saltwater Kid]

I would really like to purchase one of these beautiful stars. I know they are very tricky and sometimes downright impossible to keep but is there a difference as far as hardiness goes between the orange, blue or purple Linkias? I would like a blue or purple but my LFS is having a hard time getting those colors in and when he does thet are usually large and expensive. I like the orange too and would buy that but would prefer either purple or blue. I just love seeing these guys glide all over a tank :fun4:

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

bump

 

[greenbean36191]

Yes, there is a difference in hardiness between many of the species, but your tank isn't nearly large enough to support even the hardiest one long term.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

what about the Linckia Multiflora, would that survive? What about if i spot fed it, would that increase it's survival chances? If no to both of these questions can you recommend another coll (pretty) reef-safe star that would do well in my tank (no serpent stars...we actually want to SEE the star cruising the tank and all they do is hide)?

 

[greenbean36191]

Other than Asterina there aren't any true stars that are reef safe and likely to do well in such a small tank. I wish there was since my tank is the same size. Even L. multifora isn't likely to do well in such a small tank. Most don't take to supplimental feeding, so no dice there. You either have enough grazing area or you don't.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

From what I've heard of other people keeping orange and blue linkias in 29g for over a year I believe i will give a multiflora a try as they are the hardiest and smallest of the linckias at a max of 4" in diameter.

 

[greenbean36191]

Keep in mind it takes them over a year to starve to death (~18 months or so). Two years is the success mark.

 

[wrasseguy2]

saltwaterkid i don't think that a linkia star will make it in a tank of that size...you need alot of live rock for them to graze on..and it is not really known what they eat...i know it is hard to not buy one but i think it would be best to try something else...there are very few peeps that have kept them with success and greenbean is right it takes a long time for them to starve to death.

 

[bbehring]

What about an orange formica star? What is the min tank size for this type star? I'm assuming the tank should be established for say more than 6 months and have a large percentage of live rock?

 

[greenbean36191]

Even though they're smaller, Fromia need roughly the same amount of LR to graze as Linkcia. Usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 lbs at least.