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There are countless post here on Linckia and how difficult they are.. didn't want to high-jack others and their threads, so starting a new one.
Here's the scoop. I recognize they are expert animals and I have what I believe is a good environment for it. Mature 4' tank 3+ years.. full of pods, rocks, etc. Water parameters are SPS level with going and mature colonies. However I can't seem to keep these animals. The picture below is my THIRD attempt. First 2 were from LiveAquaria and third from a LFS. Wanted opinions:
Attempt 1 - From L.A. - Huge monster star prob 6-7 inchs. Slow acclimated 3-4 hrs.. put in tank. It quickly ran away and saw it hide behind a rock for a couple days. No big deal.. Day 3 - dropped off rock into the sand bed. Didn't look good. Assumed dead and removed it.
Attempt 2 - From L.A. - Another huge monster about same size. (Does LA ever have normal 2-3 inch ones? =). Same acclimation. Took off and hid all good. Day 4 - seem to be in sand bed with couple legs turned upwards. Looked concerning. I picked it up and turned over.. looked a mess with guts out. **This could have a premature mistake** Yes it looked ugly, but it was also very early in the morning so could have been...just eating. i.e turning it's stomach into the sandbed and feeding. I might have assumed it was dead and removed it afraid it would rot in tank and pollute since I was leaving town for a week. =(
Attempt 3 - From LFS - Trusty one. LFS says it's been in their tanks for 1-2 weeks. It was smaller at 3-4 inches. I was all in! Same acclimation ... put in tank. however has NOT moved after putting into tank. Been sitting in the sand bed and location all night. It did straighten it's legs out and looked fine. This morning saw that it turned it's legs up.. see picture. The tentacles in the legs are out.and prob moving from the water movement. Otherwise has not moved minus leg movements. Now is turning it's second leg over. See picture. Taking lessons learned from Attempt 2.. I'm not going to touch it. Question is has anyone experience something similar.. where their stars are turning some legs out and ended up losing it?
Here's the scoop. I recognize they are expert animals and I have what I believe is a good environment for it. Mature 4' tank 3+ years.. full of pods, rocks, etc. Water parameters are SPS level with going and mature colonies. However I can't seem to keep these animals. The picture below is my THIRD attempt. First 2 were from LiveAquaria and third from a LFS. Wanted opinions:
Attempt 1 - From L.A. - Huge monster star prob 6-7 inchs. Slow acclimated 3-4 hrs.. put in tank. It quickly ran away and saw it hide behind a rock for a couple days. No big deal.. Day 3 - dropped off rock into the sand bed. Didn't look good. Assumed dead and removed it.
Attempt 2 - From L.A. - Another huge monster about same size. (Does LA ever have normal 2-3 inch ones? =). Same acclimation. Took off and hid all good. Day 4 - seem to be in sand bed with couple legs turned upwards. Looked concerning. I picked it up and turned over.. looked a mess with guts out. **This could have a premature mistake** Yes it looked ugly, but it was also very early in the morning so could have been...just eating. i.e turning it's stomach into the sandbed and feeding. I might have assumed it was dead and removed it afraid it would rot in tank and pollute since I was leaving town for a week. =(
Attempt 3 - From LFS - Trusty one. LFS says it's been in their tanks for 1-2 weeks. It was smaller at 3-4 inches. I was all in! Same acclimation ... put in tank. however has NOT moved after putting into tank. Been sitting in the sand bed and location all night. It did straighten it's legs out and looked fine. This morning saw that it turned it's legs up.. see picture. The tentacles in the legs are out.and prob moving from the water movement. Otherwise has not moved minus leg movements. Now is turning it's second leg over. See picture. Taking lessons learned from Attempt 2.. I'm not going to touch it. Question is has anyone experience something similar.. where their stars are turning some legs out and ended up losing it?