Sea star ID      9/23/13 This guy hitch hiked a ride on some live rock we purchased a few months ago. He has been growing slowly but surely. We recently upgraded our tank and shortly after the move I noticed he had lost an arm. I have 2 questions,  what sort of sea star is this,  and how likely is it that the arm will become another star? <Might be a Linckia sp. See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Seastars3.htm Re the other arm... maybe>  I have included a couple of photos.  The arm is moving slowly around the tank and both the arm and the star are much more active at night. Thanks for your help. <Use, search WWM and read re these animals. Bob Fenner>

Unknown Asteroidean, ID, sel. 11/13/09 Hello WWM Crew, <Scott> I recently encountered a sea star at a reputable LFS that I am hoping will be suitable for long term survival in my display. The store manager told me that they found it in a live rock shipment (most likely from the South Pacific) and they decided to see if it would survive in one of their displays (a small mini reef setup). <Okay> After four months at the LFS, the sea star seemed to be very healthy and appeared to be regenerating previous damage to a couple of its arms. My best guess at the time was that it was a Linckia species and had a good chance of survival in my (four years mature) 135 gallon SPS display. So in spite of concerns about difficulty keeping this animal healthy long term, I decided to give it my best efforts. <Mmm, have taken a cursory look on WWM, and the Net... and I swear I've seen this species somewhere... but don't think it is of the genus Linckia... But the fact that it has prospered in captive conditions bodes well> After acclimation, quarantine and introduction to the display, I had a chance to take the attached photo, with the hope you might be able to help confirm the ID. My "novice" best guess is Linckia multifora. Would you kindly advise your opinion on this? <Please try to match here: http://wetwebmedia.com/seastars2.htm or send along a link to a graphic that matches the body conformation, colour, markings> Apart from maintaining a healthy display for "grazing", is there anything else you would do to insure this guy has the best chance for long term survival, say for example some type of target feeding? <Experiment with various food stuffs... was this Echinoderm fed anything specifically by the dealer?> As always, I truly appreciate you folks and the service provided by your invaluable website. Scott <Thank you, and thank you for sharing, contributing, being part of it. Bob Fenner> L. guildi does appear to be the closest match 11/13/09 Scotter, I've woken up a bit (finished my Java...) and I do think you are right... re this ID... L. guildi does appear to be the closest match. BobF

Purple Linckia (actually a Tamaria stria) Have a 3" star that I got at local pet store 3-4 weeks ago. It has 6 legs, but from your description & pics on your sites, it is a purple. Has been spotless & active. Anyhow, 3 days ago I noticed a tiny mass of dingy white, translucent stuff on the top of its central disk. Star is so small that I'm not sure, but it seemed to have been attached to its madreporite or its "anus". The following day it had developed a few very small white spots on 2 of its legs close to the central disk, and yesterday I saw that there are real small areas of missing flesh (vacu...something?) around these spots. No rotting flesh...yet. It's still active as ever, but has pretty much lost use of its worst affected arm. After reading other e-mails to you, I don't have much hope. And it was so dang adorable! Thank you for you time...Tammy <indeed...bad signs. You might try abrading the soft tissue areas in a bucket of seawater (then disposing) with a soft toothbrush. A short dip with reef iodine at double dose might be therapeutic too. Focus on very good water quality (skimming, water changes, chemical filters) and lets hope for the best. Anthony>

Red Linckia Starfish? Hello is there such thing as a red Linckia? <Probably Echinaster luzonicus or a Fromia sp.> I just bought one but can't find any info <You didn't just buy something you didn't know how to care for, did you? Don't make me yell at you. :) > looks just like the blue Linckia but red. Any info? <Take a look here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seastars.htm I usually just let my blue Linckia eat whatever he finds, but I occasionally feed him a piece of frozen Formula food.> Thanks in advance <You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Linckia Stars Dear Crew; I have searched your website many times over the years and I think it is an awesome site. <Thank You> Anyway, my question is what kind of sea star do I have. I purchased a sea star a couple of days ago that the dealer said was a Blue Linckia and I suppose it could be. But it is not blue it is a bluish green color with some mottling on it and blue tips on each of the arms. Otherwise it does look like a Linckia sea star but I don' t know if it actually is Linckia laevigata. Please help. The sea star is fine by the way. <There are many types of Linckia stars. Without a pic of it I could not give you a good answer. Do a search on the WWM, keyword, Linckia starfish, and see if you can find a pic of it. James (Salty Dog)> Thanks,
James <Nice name>

- ID This - Sorry, I just learned that AOL made me zip 'em. <No worries...> Hello- <Oh, hello.> I am new to marine aquarium keeping and I have found a new creature on the live rock that I (or anyone else I know) am unable to identify. A picture is attached. It looks similar to a star fish having one extra long leg. <That's exactly what it is, perhaps a Linckia... seastars have an amazing regenerative capability... this star was probably reduced to just a portion of the disk and the one leg, and it's just been slowly growing back the missing parts. Neat acquisition.> It is about 1.5" in length. The system has been running almost a month. The live rock was added during the 2nd week. Everything seems to be going well, in my humble opinion. I would like to know what this creature is and if it will harm other organisms. <Probably nothing to worry about... some seastars make a habit of eating bi-valves, but others are less predatory. I'd keep it around.> I find your website very informative. Thanks for all your <Cheers, J -- >