Should I keep a red linkia starfish?

To me, a marine fish tank just isn't complete without a starfish; much like a freshwater tank needs plants and freshwater shrimp.  There's just something about shape and color that is so different than the other denizens of the tank that a sea star is always eye catching.  Even bland species like the sand sifting stars add great interest.

However, starfish are notoriously difficult to keep. There are other species of linkia so it's important to remember that not all linkia are created equal. In this article we are going to deal with just one, the deep red linkia.

When purchasing a sea star (starfish) there are several considerations, each of which is quite important.

• How large will it get?
• What does it eat?
• Is it reef-safe?
• How hardy is it?
• What sort of tank should I have?
• A note on acclimating your red linkia

How large does the red linkia get?

If you're lucky enough to have a 125 gallon or larger aquarium, the size of your starfish doesn't really matter.  However, the majority of aquarists have smaller tanks nowadays. For those of us in the 30 to 55 gallon range the size of our animals becomes a greater concern. The red linkia only grows to about 5 inches, that's a nice size, but not so large as to get in the way.

What does a red linkia eat?

You won't need to feed your red linkia and it won't be particularly interested if you try.  Unlike the chocolate chip starfish which will take meaty foods from you, the linkia eats bio-film and edible detritus. It will just cruise around the tank cleaning things off for you.

What sort of tank should I have for a red linkia?

Because of the above mentioned diet your tank should be large enough to produce enough food for the linkia. A 30 gallon with lots of live rock and sand is the minimum but a 50 gallon or larger will work better. Perhaps more important than the size of the tank is the age.  The tank should have been up and running successfully for at least six months, a year if you really want to treat the starfish right.  The reason for this is simple, an immature tank does not have sufficient food for the linkia and it will starve to death.  Starfish are one of the creatures that really make a marine tank, so they really are worth the wait.

Is the red linkia reef-safe?

Yes. They won't harm your corals and unlike their larger cousins the blue linkia they stay small so are not going to knock over your rock or mow over corals.

How hardy is the red linkia?

Starfish can be difficult to keep. As a rule they are very sensitive to water changes and any trace of copper (such as used in some medicines) will kill them. That's true of all sea stars, but some really shouldn't be kept at all.  In fact, there exist some species we don't even know exactly what they eat, others that eat only live sponges.  This and other sensitivities make some species very difficult and seemingly impossible to keep.

The red linkia, however, is among the more hardy starfish available to the aquarist. They aren't recommended for the novice, but if you've been keeping a tank (successfully) for a year (six months if you've really studied) you should have no problem keeping a red linkia.

A note on acclimating your red linkia

As previously mentioned, sea stars in general are sensitive to changes in water parameters.  Take extra care in acclimating your sea star and use the drip acclimation method. At least two hours is recommended. Then float for temperature.  After which, lower the container into the tank and let the starfish easily drop out onto a secluded rock.  If its clinking to the container, it's best to just leave the whole thing in the tank and let it crawl out on its own.  Trying to pull the dozens of tube-feet off the surface of the container could lead to injury, or you may scratch the animal with your fingernail.  Injuries often don't heal. 

If you have not acclimated your sea star correctly, you'll know it in the most dramatic way, it will die. The first sign of impending death is often a lesion on one of the arms, then another and another.  These grow until the entire sea star disintegrates into nothing.  If the lesions affect only the arms, and the body remains untouched, there is a chance it could live as they regrow their arms but this isn't likely.

Don't be intimidated by this, just let it guide you to be careful.  Acclimation in marine creatures is far more important than in freshwater.  If you are used to just floating a bag and releasing its contents then the whole discussion on acclimation may be new to you.  Take a moment to read up on it, we've got an article all about it.

Conclusion

Red linkia sea stars are great additions to a mature tank tended by a conscientious aquarist. Take time to acclimate your new acquisition correctly and it should live a happy life.

Information contributed by: Chad