New starfish

Is this a linkia? Not sure of the spelling, but purchased here in Japan and I am brand new to reefing, friend had what looked to me was an orange colored starfish and it recently had a chunk removed from it and maybe a day later, he found it dead and appeared to be a pile of mush. He posted pics of it on some other forum and people responded to say that it starved to death. He has one like mine as well (we bought them the same day). I asked my friend what to feed him, he said you don't have to feed it at all, but after what happend to his orange one and what people said, I am concerned that mine will do the same thing. Anyone know what this is and what I should be feeding it? if at all? I tried to feed it some frozen shrimp but it did not take it. Any info would be helpful, thanks in advance

 

ummm...no one has a clue?

 

well i can tell you that yes it is a linkia starfish, i can also tell you that it is a very hard starfish to keep. How old is your tank? you should have a well established tank before ever trying a linkia. as far as feeding goes, it is a scavenger, but it would not hurt to target feed it some brine shrimp. If you google Linkia it will inform you of the expert care required for this critter. It sucks that your LFS did not inform you of this. Best of luck. I will add that the orange colored stars are much more hardier than the blue ones.

 

good luck i had one and it didn't live long

 

got to addmit tho, a very beatiful aquarium. looks very new? or a very good system, great job

 

You can try feeding it whatever you want- but the fact is- is that nobody really knows what most starfish eat. So even though your trying to squirt brine shrimp by its oral disc, doesnt mean it's going to eat it.
I would imagine if anything- that it wouldnt eat brine shrimp and more likely to be some type of film algae eater of sorts- but really, who knows?

 

it may bot be relevant or even related to this one. but ive got a red one with pink "dots" . the pattern is the same , just the coloration is different. had it since feb and its doing good. looks like its main diet it mostly algae , maybe detrius. it always on the glass and rocks

 

Thanks...tank is only a couple months old.

 

My star fish goes everywhere, on the glass, over the sand and rock, even saw him half way in a hole in the rock the other day. I tried feeding him some shrimp the other day. He didn't go for it. I have been leaving the algae grow on the glass (that and I am lazy...lol) for him and the snails to eat. I do not think I will have a problem with him, he seems active and I have to agree, he seems to feed on the algae and possibly the detritus which is awesome if he is...