Linkia Starfish During Water Changes

[720 Reefer]

So I recently added a blue linkia starfish to my mixed reef. He loves to just do laps around the tank, but usually ends up hanging out towards the top. I went to do a water change the other day and it hit me, I can't just remove the water because he is at the top and would be exposed to air. So I slowly pried him off and placed him lower in the tank (all went well). My questions are: Will removing him from the glass every couple weeks damage his tube feet at all? Is there a certain technique to remove them from the glass safely? What do you do when your star is at the top of your tank and you need to do a water change? Thanks!

 

[dwest]

So I recently added a blue linkia starfish to my mixed reef. He loves to just do laps around the tank, but usually ends up hanging out towards the top. I went to do a water change the other day and it hit me, I can't just remove the water because he is at the top and would be exposed to air. So I slowly pried him off and placed him lower in the tank (all went well). My questions are: Will removing him from the glass every couple weeks damage his tube feet at all? Is there a certain technique to remove them from the glass safely? What do you do when your star is at the top of your tank and you need to do a water change? Thanks!

I would leave him alone unless he is out of water for more than a few minutes. Much longer than that and I would probably do what you are doing. Honestly my linkias never lived long enough for this to be a problem.

 

[Steve H]

There were people saying in the late 90s and early 2000s that exposing Linckia to air will damage or kill them. This is a myth and they naturally can live in the intertidal zone. I have Blue Linckias that are 8+ years old that have been exposed to air many times. Starvation is a greater concern.

 

[720 Reefer]

There were people saying in the late 90s and early 2000s that exposing Linckia to air will damage or kill them. This is a myth and they naturally can live in the intertidal zone. I have Blue Linckias that are 8+ years old that have been exposed to air many times. Starvation is a greater concern.

Good to know! I appreciate it. I wanted a star from day one but waited until my tank was 2 years old before pulling the trigger. Fingers crossed there is enough for him to feed on. Any tips or pointers?

 

[Steve H]

Good to know! I appreciate it. I wanted a star from day one but waited until my tank was 2 years old before pulling the trigger. Fingers crossed there is enough for him to feed on. Any tips or pointers?

Not really any secret sauce for them: Initital selection of a healthy specimen and then provide them with as big and mature of an aquarium as possible. Linckia multifora is a much more appropriate species for the majority of reefers.

 

[Saltyanimals]

Mine is out of water almost daily for the same reason above that it likes to hang out at the top of the waterline. Autofeed automation turns off main pump and drops water 3x daily. I've had mine for about 1 year. 1 year does not mean long term success to me as this is my 3rd one. Others lasted days. I told myself if this one didn't make it, I would never try again. .. got lucky on 3 for now.