RnB Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 who is keeping blue starfish? what are you feeding them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 me, nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Funny I was talking about this today. Linkia starfish are the centre of much debate online (UR,RC,WWM). The issue is that their short term survival is almost garanteed, however keeping them for more than 12 months is the challenge. Few people have. Having just come back from Vanuatu where there are thousands of Linka starfish it was cool to see how fat and blue they are in the wild compared to the ones i've seen in peoples reefs (including my own). They are quite nice, but I have noticed that when I got mine it was always racing around, but it has since slowed down and is often hidden. My tank is quite large (740 litre, with another 550 litres in sumps/refugium). The theory is that over time they slowly strip the tank of whatever it is they eat, then slowly starve and die. I know its hard advice to hear, especially comming from someone who already has one, but I would steer clear, unless you are comfortable knowing you are going to kill it anyway. As much as I like mine, I doubt I would try another untill my 1500 litre tank is built and a year or 2 old. I know a few people who have them, not that people will probable admit to it but has anyone had one die yet? Mine must be getting close to being 12 months old, but I can't remeber. Perhapps i'll check my log on my site and see how long i've kept it. YMMV. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Mine has died. One arm started rotting, and the rest soon followed. Don't know what caused the initial infection. I have some fairly large crabs in my tank, so may be them? Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Possible crabs, hard to know. I have 2, both still alive. One came from a guy down here who had large brittle star starfish that he throught may have attacked it, or maybee even his 8 line wrassee? Its still alive but I am not convinced its going to make it. Its not as bright as blue as it once was and its very skinny. It has healed it wound though. There is some interesting stuff by Bob Fenner and Julian Sprung about how the water tranported with starfish should also go into you aquairum as it has 'healing proerties'. A healthy starfish should recover from a wound lost limb or even lost body. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 i've got two tiny little star fish that are grey one only has three legs i just wanted to be like everyone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 KILL THEM seriously Brian they are a pest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 You mean one of these ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 thats them caryl (they look lighter in a tank though) what do they do steve? looks like someone tired to kill them already(hence the three legs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 The asterina starfish? Little gray, variable numbers of legs? They're not pests, I don't think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Ive got 1 seems real happy, must likely because I over feed. Also 1 Bristle Star spotted and 1 small black one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 You can find them in all sorts of places :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 arhhhhhh i've got one of them in my tank too as for the star fish Asterina starfish, or more commonly known as Fiji starfish are generally dime sized or smaller with a large body and irregular arm length. They tend to hide among corals and in the crevices of the live rock during the day and can sometimes be seen clinging to the corners of the tank. This type of starfish has been shown to eat coralline algae and will eat small polyp stony corals; specifically Acropora, xenia, green star polyps and several types of soft leather corals. These starfish divide across the main body with two or three legs of varying lengths and multiply rapidly. Remove these starfish when found i think that i'll takje it out if i see it again (cause it could eat almost everything in my tank) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 They are a pest, 1 becomes, 5 becomes 500. Alois has thousands, used to come out at night time. Not sure if he still has them or not? Kill them. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted October 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 When Ivan striped his tank I got his blue starfish. I was very carefull to acclimatise his and he seems to be doing well, moving around and well and no obviouse tissue damage or discolouration... I always think fish etc purchased from other tanks are a little less risk then straight import due to there survival through transport/import/ period etc. I know it will be at least 12 months before I know if its possible to keep this guy long term, I have a lot of rock , I just wished i knew more about what they eat. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 RnB there are some good articles on Linkia starfish on RC. People belive they eat 'shite' (can't spell detritus?) and perhapps some sponges. I think mine must be close to 12 months old? What about everyone else, what is the status of their Linkia starfish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted October 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 i am hoping he/she love shite.... tank has plenty..... maybe thats why it was happy in Ivans tank, he had quite a few fish and feed well i think.... I wonder if it would survive in a barebottom zero nitrate/phos tank... i doubt it, artical at advanced aquarist suggested that it needed some shite to live on and plenty of rock, also said once established they where quite hardy, i am hoping it will help keep the bottom cleam etc.... Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 i am hoping he/she love shite.... tank has plenty..... maybe thats why it was happy in Ivans tank hahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa my worms do a good job of eating all the before mentioned substance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted October 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 hey i loved ivans tank, not saying it was full of shite or anything, it just wasn't a zeovitasaurous zero anything tank........ I not think a blue linkia do that well in a low nutrient environment... but still hoping he will help lower mine 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 check mine out on sunday in my zeovitasauras tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted October 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 true.... i bet its fat, blue and as happy as a pig in a muckless tank 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 speaking of pigs in mud my clown loves his anemone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted October 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 i loved ivans massive anemone, but it was sold when i got there.... to the guy starting the butterfly farm, so i guess lots of kids will get to see it..... it was MASSIVE like about 18nches across I am def going to get one of these sometime soon..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 butterfly farm?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted October 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 a guy is starting a large butterfly farm/display near auckland international airport, he is going to have a 4000L marine display so i hear.... just gossip tho, not spoken directly to them, just what I heard... Would be good to have more reef displays in public space....... IMHO the ones at Kelly Tarltons are a travesty and shame them as a professitional site ! I would expect them to have much higher quality saltwater display tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.