Orange linkia

[kellen85]

I recently added a orange linkia to my tank. Looks like it's melting? Everything as far as parameters are fine. It's moving around and what not just it's melting . Any input greatly appreciated

 

[Dave71]

How big is your tank? More Importantly, how much live rock do you have?

To be honest, if the startfish is melting, I would not give it a good prognosis.

If you have crabs, they may hasten its likely demise, but that is only because it is already not doing well.

 

[kthuet]

I have a similar problem with mine. I was recommended to try a dip treatment with Lugol's Solution (Iodine Supplement and Coral Dip) and have just treated my orange star with it. I am hoping it works. Just follow the directions on the back for the coral dip. I was told that I may have to do the treatment twice.

 

[kellen85]

It's a solana now plenty of rock. Everything else is fine but that. Monti, superman, some acros, and few zoas. Just have hermit red blue legs.

 

[mscarpena]

Your tank is way too small. 125 gallon is min recommended tank size. Either starved to death or did not acclimate it properly. I would not recommend getting another one.

 

[Dave71]

Your tank is way too small. 125 gallon is min recommended tank size. Either starved to death or did not acclimate it properly. I would not recommend getting another one.

+ 1

Your tank is too small to support an orange linkia star. Would be even worse for a blue linkia.

Agree 100% with mscarpena.

 

[acura27]

I have a o range linkia in my 75 i acclimated him a minimum of 4 hours to be on the safe side he has been in there for 6 months now doing great sometimes you just dont get a good one fom the lfs

 

[phuzzykins]

FWIW, I had a 4" blue linckia in my Solana for nearly a year before moving it to my 300 gallon setup. It was a hitchhiker; got maybe an hour of acclimation, was exposed to air - in short, everything these guys aren't supposed to tolerate.

The thing is still happy and healthy as far as I can tell. Life in a 34 gallon tank may not be ideal, but it's not a death sentence either.

 

[AJSTITAN14]

FWIW, I had a 4" blue linckia in my Solana for nearly a year before moving it to my 300 gallon setup. It was a hitchhiker; got maybe an hour of acclimation, was exposed to air - in short, everything these guys aren't supposed to tolerate.

The thing is still happy and healthy as far as I can tell. Life in a 34 gallon tank may not be ideal, but it's not a death sentence either.

It's definitely a death sentence. Given enough time any star in too small of a tank will die a premature death. Stars seem to be able to tolerate about 18 months of near starvation before they finally die. This forum gets a lot of "I had this star for about a year and a half in my BC29 and then it melted." posts.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I recently added a orange linkia to my tank. Looks like it's melting? Everything as far as parameters are fine. It's moving around and what not just it's melting . Any input greatly appreciated

it wasn't a Linckia spp. star.

Most likely it was a Fromia or other Pacific species. It's DOA- probably from osmotic shock. These babies need slow acclimation at all levels of the supply chain.