Reef safe/hardy starfish?!!

It's about 4 inches from arm to arm. I feed it pellets when it's up near the top. Otherwise the starfih gets it's own food when I feed the tank.
 
I always thought the banded brittles were pretty cool looking. the one i had let us hold him and would take food from us or a baster
 
I have had 3 "Elegant Brittle Stars" = Ophiomastix Variabilis for 4 or 5 years. They are beautiful (black with yellow stripes thatstretch/ morph when they move for 2 of them and a rare variant that is black with yellow and deep red stripes). They are more often seen than the typical brittle star, living high on the rock-work and being out in the current much of the time. If you can find one, I highly recommend them. I also highly recommend the "red" serpents (though I find them to be bright orange) and the harlequin serpents. I have been lucky enough to keep several of both going on 6-8 years now.
One other experience I would add is that virtually every fromia and linkia slowly melts away and dies, even if acclimated perfectly. I am currently hosting a blue linkia that seems to be thriving - going on about 9 months - by eating my yellow ball sponges. I've never heard of this, but he clearly visits every few days, and parks on top for a day or so, then leaves with a big hole or eaten area left behind. I was a little disturbed by the loss of the first sponge, but thrilled to find a possible sustenance for what I consider one of the coolest and most appealing of all the animals available to us. I wondered if he might find some type of algea or other life within the sponge, but I've bought more sponges and he continues to munch them down. I'm on my fourth one now, and it was a really big one, and even though he's eating some, it seems to be maintaining some size.
Anyone else see this before?
 
finsurgeon said:
I have had 3 "Elegant Brittle Stars" = Ophiomastix Variabilis for 4 or 5 years. They are beautiful (black with yellow stripes thatstretch/ morph when they move for 2 of them and a rare variant that is black with yellow and deep red stripes). They are more often seen than the typical brittle star, living high on the rock-work and being out in the current much of the time. If you can find one, I highly recommend them. I also highly recommend the "red" serpents (though I find them to be bright orange) and the harlequin serpents. I have been lucky enough to keep several of both going on 6-8 years now.
One other experience I would add is that virtually every fromia and linkia slowly melts away and dies, even if acclimated perfectly. I am currently hosting a blue linkia that seems to be thriving - going on about 9 months - by eating my yellow ball sponges. I've never heard of this, but he clearly visits every few days, and parks on top for a day or so, then leaves with a big hole or eaten area left behind. I was a little disturbed by the loss of the first sponge, but thrilled to find a possible sustenance for what I consider one of the coolest and most appealing of all the animals available to us. I wondered if he might find some type of algea or other life within the sponge, but I've bought more sponges and he continues to munch them down. I'm on my fourth one now, and it was a really big one, and even though he's eating some, it seems to be maintaining some size.
Anyone else see this before?
Click to expand...

very interesting. if it passes the 1 year mark than maybe you're onto something.
 
finsurgeon said:
I have had 3 "Elegant Brittle Stars" = Ophiomastix Variabilis for 4 or 5 years. They are beautiful (black with yellow stripes thatstretch/ morph when they move for 2 of them and a rare variant that is black with yellow and deep red stripes). They are more often seen than the typical brittle star, living high on the rock-work and being out in the current much of the time. If you can find one, I highly recommend them. I also highly recommend the "red" serpents (though I find them to be bright orange) and the harlequin serpents. I have been lucky enough to keep several of both going on 6-8 years now.
One other experience I would add is that virtually every fromia and linkia slowly melts away and dies, even if acclimated perfectly. I am currently hosting a blue linkia that seems to be thriving - going on about 9 months - by eating my yellow ball sponges. I've never heard of this, but he clearly visits every few days, and parks on top for a day or so, then leaves with a big hole or eaten area left behind. I was a little disturbed by the loss of the first sponge, but thrilled to find a possible sustenance for what I consider one of the coolest and most appealing of all the animals available to us. I wondered if he might find some type of algea or other life within the sponge, but I've bought more sponges and he continues to munch them down. I'm on my fourth one now, and it was a really big one, and even though he's eating some, it seems to be maintaining some size.
Anyone else see this before?
Click to expand...

Yellow Ball Sponges? Is this what you are talking about? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?c=720&pCatId=576

I've had my blue linkia for seven months, seems to be doing good. The star travels to my overflow every night and appears to filter feed, he will also do this above my MP10. I might give one of these yellow sponges a try.
 
Yes. Those are the ones. Please let me know if you see the same behavior. I can't recall if I've ever had a Blue Linkia in a tank with a yellow ball sponge before, but there is no mistaking that the current one is eating them.
 
finsurgeon said:
Yes. Those are the ones. Please let me know if you see the same behavior. I can't recall if I've ever had a Blue Linkia in a tank with a yellow ball sponge before, but there is no mistaking that the current one is eating them.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think I might order one of those in the next couple of weeks once I'm ready for some more livestock. I will definitely report back if I see the same behavior.
 
I have a red linkia in m 29 BioCube, I'd say they are hardy, it was exposed to air, only temp. Acclimated... Looks better than the day I seen it at the store... Very pretty! Eats sponges like its going outta style.
 
Biocubehqi said:
I have a red linkia in m 29 BioCube, I'd say they are hardy, it was exposed to air, only temp. Acclimated... Looks better than the day I seen it at the store... Very pretty! Eats sponges like its going outta style.
Click to expand...

Did you add the sponges to your system? I have some yellow and pink sponges that have been growing on the live rock, but I have never seen my blue touch them.
 
Best looking is the reef-safe red knob sea star. Linkias are hit and miss when it comes to being hardy....mostly miss. As already mentioned, the red serpent is also cool looking.
 
my red or orange linkia has been easy as cake. doesnt bother anything, just cruises around doin his thing lol. hasnt touched my orange fan/cactus sponge even once, seems to "filter feed" more by putting its arms out into current
 
accordsirh22 said:
my red or orange linkia has been easy as cake. doesnt bother anything, just cruises around doin his thing lol. hasnt touched my orange fan/cactus sponge even once, seems to "filter feed" more by putting its arms out into current
Click to expand...

This is what mine does, loves hanging out on the overflow when the lights go out. He does this just about every night. I had to put my ATO on a timer because of it.
 
Accordsirh22, how long have you had your orange linckia? I've heard they have a better success rate than the blue's, for whatever reason. I've been seriously considering one.
 
Esage said:
Did you add the sponges to your system? I have some yellow and pink sponges that have been growing on the live rock, but I have never seen my blue touch them.
Click to expand...

These are not sponges I have added, they rather yellow and purple ones that grow randomly. So far so good. But this thing dosnt stop eating. Hope my system can keep enough for it...
 
my red linkia and sand shifting starfish has been doing very well.. my nitrates have been fluctuating between 20-40ppm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Abyssopelagic
Multibar Angelfish Harems (In a 75 Gallon Deep Reef)
Replies
4
Views
527
Zionas
Z
Timfish
More "Old" Reef Animals
Replies
5
Views
2K
Timfish
Timfish
S
Reef Tank for Sale (fish, corals, equipment, etc)
Replies
6
Views
351
chewey
C
slathrum
Where to buy a reef ready aquarium these days
Replies
8
Views
402
wvned
wvned
S
Tank Update & Tentative Stocking Plan
Replies
2
Views
170
griss
griss
Back
Top