Which starfish.
- Thread starter cato
- Start date
mystikdragon7
New member
With 100lbs of live rock it looks like you will have a good chance at a sea star. You can look into getting a linkia. They are pretty hardy once you get them acclimated to your tank, it's just acclimating them is the hard part. A Linkia Multiflora is probably IMO the best choice to get because they stay on the smaller side and don't as big as the common linkia (Linckia Laevigata ) that you normally see.
Black Phantom
New member
Your 54 probably isn't big enough to support the sand sifter for a long period of time. He will slowly starve unless you add food to the sand bed.
If you go for a Linkia just remember to never expose them to air.
Make sure your LFS bags them underwater and you do the same when you put them in your tank.
And do a long acclimation as well.
If you go for a Linkia just remember to never expose them to air.
Make sure your LFS bags them underwater and you do the same when you put them in your tank.
And do a long acclimation as well.
AllenFord_SC
New member
Stay away from Linkias! There survival rate is dismal at best. They are foragers. and require lots of LR. Serpent stars are probablly your best choice if you really want a starfish. Or the Brittle stars bust make sure to stay away from green brittles. They are known to eat shrimp, crabs, and the occasional fish.
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techigirl78
New member
I agree, serpent stars all the way. Linkia have bad survival rates and the other stars are not reef safe.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Do you have a refugium?
What fish/inverts do you have? [what's eating the stuff in the sandbed]
What fish/inverts do you have? [what's eating the stuff in the sandbed]
bearpeidog
Member
Give this a read: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/toonen.htm
I've read a lot of threads that indicate how delicate they can be. This article actually indicates they can be hardy IF you get a healthy one from the start and have the proper tank setup. It also discusses the diet (which is unknown).
I decided to try an orange - which was at my LFS for about two months and was quite mobile. 2 hour drip acclimation (and ensuring he never touched the air etc) he seems to be doing fine. Although - its only been three weeks so I can hardly call it a success at this point.
They are very cool to watch - they move a lot faster than I ever thought and are very interesting. Very nice addition to a tank and I'm optimistic he will do fine. Time will tell!
I've read a lot of threads that indicate how delicate they can be. This article actually indicates they can be hardy IF you get a healthy one from the start and have the proper tank setup. It also discusses the diet (which is unknown).
I decided to try an orange - which was at my LFS for about two months and was quite mobile. 2 hour drip acclimation (and ensuring he never touched the air etc) he seems to be doing fine. Although - its only been three weeks so I can hardly call it a success at this point.
They are very cool to watch - they move a lot faster than I ever thought and are very interesting. Very nice addition to a tank and I'm optimistic he will do fine. Time will tell!
AllenFord_SC
New member
Taken from the article referenced above:
they are not really recommended for reef tanks smaller than about 50 gallons or so for the long-term. Although small stars may do well in smaller tanks for some time, they will eventually require more space. The problem is that in such small tanks, even if the star is successfully acclimated (Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll come back to this important detail in a moment), a reasonably-sized sea star (say about the size of your hand) will not have enough well-aged rock surface to continue to find food for extended periods of time. Another important consideration for tanks smaller than about 50 gallons is that Linckia laevigata can get quite large (30 cm or more across) and the amount of food they require will increase with their size -- obviously, the amount of established live rock in your tank will have to be quite large to support a grazing star which is about a foot in diameter!
they are not really recommended for reef tanks smaller than about 50 gallons or so for the long-term. Although small stars may do well in smaller tanks for some time, they will eventually require more space. The problem is that in such small tanks, even if the star is successfully acclimated (Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll come back to this important detail in a moment), a reasonably-sized sea star (say about the size of your hand) will not have enough well-aged rock surface to continue to find food for extended periods of time. Another important consideration for tanks smaller than about 50 gallons is that Linckia laevigata can get quite large (30 cm or more across) and the amount of food they require will increase with their size -- obviously, the amount of established live rock in your tank will have to be quite large to support a grazing star which is about a foot in diameter!
bearpeidog
Member
Chirocato has a 54 gallon which puts him barely over what the author recommended. However, he also appears to have quite a bit of LR. It really isn't about the number of gallons, pounds of rock but rather rock surface area. I know I have one piece of small rock that weighs a TON. After I bought that rock I was more careful in my selections 
I think you are expressing concern about size - and its a valid point. Especially when CHirotao expressed a desire for a "small" starfish. I can understand not wanting a 1 foot star fish in your 54! (even if it could survive on the food available).
Can anyone who has successfully kept a Linkia for 3-4 years discuss their growth rate? While, from what I read, they can reach a foot in diameter, I'd like to know if its really common or possible that they reach this size in captivity.
I think you are expressing concern about size - and its a valid point. Especially when CHirotao expressed a desire for a "small" starfish. I can understand not wanting a 1 foot star fish in your 54! (even if it could survive on the food available).
Can anyone who has successfully kept a Linkia for 3-4 years discuss their growth rate? While, from what I read, they can reach a foot in diameter, I'd like to know if its really common or possible that they reach this size in captivity.
