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Related FAQs: Linckia Stars, Linckia Stars 2, Linckia Identification, Linckia Behavior, Linckia Compatibility, Linckia Selection, Linckia Systems, Linckia Feeding, Linckia Disease, Linckia Reproduction, Sea Stars 1, Sea Stars 2, Sea Stars 3, Sea Stars 4, Sea Stars 5, Seastar Selection, Seastar Compatibility, Seastar Systems, Seastar Behavior, Seastar Feeding, Seastar Reproduction, Seastar DiseaseAsterina Stars, Chocolate Chip Stars, Crown of Thorns Stars, Fromia Stars, Sand-Sifting Stars,

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/A Diversity of Aquatic Life

Linckia/Linkia, A Mix of Species, Hardiness Group of Sea Stars

Bob Fenner

In Kona

About "Linckia" Stars: There are a great many seastars sold as Linckia/Linckia spp. that are decidedly of other genera. Some are not peaceful bacterial et al. detritus feeders as the "true" Linckias of many colors (and at least two species). Do make sure and get a positive identification to species, and research the nutritional, and system size and type needs before purchasing stars. The true Linckias are good choices where available in initially healthy condition, and placed in established, large systems (at least a hundred gallons) with plenty of live rock, detritus to feed on, and not too many competitors. Named in honor of J.H. Linck who wrote a monograph of seastars in 1733.  Tropical Atlantic and Pacific. 

Linckia columbiae the Fragile Seastar. Semi-tropical Linckia species found in the eastern Pacific. One off of San Diego California in the process of sampling/eating a sea anemone.

Linckia guildingi Gray 1840, the Green Linckia. Usually with five (sometimes 4 or 6) arms that are cylindrical in cross section. Skin appears smooth but is coarse with low, hard nodules. Though called "green" occurs in other colors (tan, beige, brown, blue, reddish). Big Island Hawaii pix. 

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Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus 1758), Linckia, Linckia... Seastar. Blue and greenish ones in Fiji. Also found in other colors, brown, tans, violet to burgundy, even mottled... And there are other species of the genus offered to the trade. This animal is very (95+ % IME) often doomed from the retailer to aquarists... having suffered too much damage and neglect in the process of collection, holding, shipping... Look for damage (ex. right) and avoid such obviously poor specimens. In the wild this is an algae, bacteria, detritus feeder... that needs space (hundreds of gallons) and mulm (muck, dirt, call it what you will, on the bottom of its system to survive. My advice, look to other genera, species of seastars. 

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Linckia multifora (Lamarck 1816). Similar but smaller than L. laevigata and mottled red, blue and yellow colors... also a suspension, algal, microbial... feeder. Indo-Central Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa to Hawai'i. N. Sulawesi, and Nuka Hiva, Marquesas pix. 

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The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size.
  
A Purple "Linckia", Tamaria stria Gray 1840. Eastern Pacific; Baja to Columbia. Need rock substrate for habitat, not over-zealously clean. Best kept one to a tank. Family Ophidiasteridae.


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