red linkia on top of glass! WHY???

[BradsOcean]

Ever since I bought my red linkia, it went to the top of the glass and stayed there for a few days. I took it off and put it on a rock. A few hours later it was up on the same top-corner of the glass. i took him off again and it went back. Why is it doing that?????

 

[pagojoe]

I'll hazard a guess on this, but maybe someone else will actually KNOW the answer... Sometimes you find Linckia species exposed on the reef, particularly L. laevigata, but most of the time they are stuck to the bottom of rocks or coral slabs, inverted. Maybe your starfish hasn't found a good slab to "hang" under, and works his way to the top of the tank looking for that kind of spot to hang out? I had them climb the walls of my tank, too, and figured that was probably the reason.




Don

 

[Bubbashrimp]

Maybe there is something drastically wrong with your water chemistry?

 

[pagojoe]

Hmmm, I wonder if other people keep these starfish in their tanks, and they remain on top of the rocks or sand in open view without climbing or hunting a hiding place?

 

[reefgrief]

I have both a blue and red linkia.. and occasionally find them at the top of tank.. It may be water quality issues, but perhaps it takes a LOT of rock to provide surface for protists or bacteria that they feed on.. so adding more rock should help. Not sure if they consume cellular algae, but dont consume hair or macros)
I have not had either star for longer than a year.. and others have written that they usually starve after 18 months.. So I am not knowledgeable enough to offer sound oppion.. Good luck and keep us posted.. I know I am interested in any success or failure you have.. I will do the same. Here are some of my tank parameters :
150g with 2-3 inches of crushed rock, and 250 to 300 lbs of mostly figi live rock stacked in such a way to allow (slow) water flow around most every piece. Also allows stars to work on each piece
Ph 8.3 Ca ~ 400ppm and hardness ~ 135 to 170 ppm
phosphates < 5ppm ( high, since I use rain water top off, I do have slight amt of hair algae on glass)... nitrates < 1ppm

 

[wrasseguy2]

i have had my linkia for a year and a half now....and sometime mine does this but most of the time he is all over the rocks and has this one spot that he loves to hang out at.not sure why the do it...i have a serpent that does that too time to time

 

[HBtank]

My blue frequently rests at the top of the glass.

If it is not at the top of the glass it is actively moving and grazing, always.

I have had it 8 months and this is its ritual. IMO when it is at the top it is resting, and will not move at all. otherwise I can count on finding it cruising the rocks.

 

[Doglover_50]

Mine went to the top or the first time today in the 3 weeks I've owned it...then started heading back down. Interesting.

 

[HBtank]

The fact mine "rests" makes me happy, I get the feeling it is content and full.

 

[J. Montgomery]

How long have you had the starfish, and how did you acclimate it?

In my brief experience, snails that aren't acclimated long enough tend to hang out at the top of the tank before croaking after a few days.