Echinoderms · Ophidiasteridae
Blue linckia
A large, bright blue sea star with long cylindrical arms, common on shallow Indo-Pacific reefs. Much sought after, it rarely survives in the aquarium: most imported specimens die within a few months, probably of starvation.
What it needs
Related species
Linckia multifora
Range recommended by the sheet
Day to day
For experienced hobbyists only ('Expert only' at LiveAquaria). Many specimens die from improper acclimation or malnutrition.
Acclimation: it does not tolerate sudden changes in oxygen, salinity and pH. Acclimate it very slowly by drip and never expose it to air while handling. On arrival, inspect its underside: the small parasitic snail Thyca crystallina often clings there.
Setup: a large, mature, well-lit tank with sand or coral rubble and plenty of rock to hide in; juveniles hide by day, adults cling to rock or glass. It needs a food source similar to its natural habitat: a young or overly clean tank starves it.
Tankmates: peaceful and solitary, it tolerates other stars and calm fish and does not attack corals. Avoid pufferfish, the harlequin shrimp and large triton shells, its predators.
Sensitivities: no copper-based medication. In the aquarium, regrowing an animal from a fragment is far less likely than in the wild. Water: 22 to 25.5 °C, specific gravity 1.023 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4, 8 to 12 dKH.
In the wild it continuously grazes organic films, algal turf and bacterial films on hard substrates, detritus, small invertebrates living in algal mats and dead animals. Adults sometimes wave one or two arms in the water to catch suspended microbes.
In the aquarium it grazes organic films and low-growing organisms such as sponges and algae. According to Wikipedia (de), most specimens die after a few months, probably of hunger, because they do not find enough food and refuse substitute foods. Try small pieces of clam meat or tablets slipped under the star.
Tank mates
In detail
Identification: small central disc and five tubular arms of almost even width, with rounded, often upturned tips; usually 30 cm across, up to 40 cm. Most often blue (light to dark), sometimes aqua, purple, orange or pinkish, sometimes with lighter or darker spots; yellowish tube feet. Juveniles, mottled brown or blue-green with dark blue arm tips, are very hard to tell from Linckia multifora. Four- or six-armed individuals, or ones with unequal arms, are common.
In the wild it lives on coral reefs, rock, dead coral and seagrass beds, from the surface to 60 m, mostly in sunny areas; juveniles hide under corals and rocks. It moves slowly (8 cm per minute on average), grazing organic films, algal turf, detritus and small invertebrates. Its predators: pufferfish, triton shells (Charonia), the harlequin shrimp and some sea anemones; a small parasitic snail, Thyca crystallina, often clings to its underside.
Reproduction and trade: the sexes are separate and gametes are released into the water; a juvenile takes about 3 years to mature. It can also shed an arm on purpose (autotomy) and regrow a whole animal from it. It has never been bred in captivity. Collected for aquariums (about 3% of the global trade according to Wikipedia) and dried as a souvenir, it has declined locally. It has not been evaluated by the IUCN and is not listed by CITES.
Status
Not evaluated (NE)
WoRMS
AphiaID 207610 · See on WoRMS (opens in a new tab)
Where this comes from
Linckia multifora
Archaster typicus
Fromia indica
Fromia milleporella
Protoreaster nodosus
Mespilia globulus
Astropecten polyacanthus
Bohadschia argus
