Blue Linckia Starfish

Blue Linckia Starfish: The Expert-Only Reef Star

The Blue Linckia Starfish (Linckia laevigata), also known as the Blue Sea Star or Comet Sea Star, is one of the most stunning and popular invertebrates in the marine hobby, prized for its vibrant, uniform blue coloration. Originating from the shallow, sunny reefs of the Indo-Pacific, this animal can grow quite large, reaching a diameter of 12 inches (30 cm) or more.

Despite its popularity, the Blue Linckia is considered an Expert Only species. It is extremely sensitive to changes in water quality, especially salinity, pH, and temperature, and is intolerant of copper-based medications. It requires an exceptionally long and slow drip acclimation (2+ hours) and must never be exposed to air during handling.

The main challenge of keeping this starfish lies in its specialized and poorly understood diet. It is an Omnivore/Detritivore that primarily grazes on microbial films, diatoms, and small sponges found on the surface of live rock. Most captive specimens slowly starve to death unless housed in a very large, old, and established system with a massive amount of grazing surface.

Diet & Compatibility:

• Diet: This starfish is an Omnivore / Grazer. Its natural diet consists primarily of microbial films, microscopic algae, detritus, and small sponges found on well-established live rock and substrate. It is not a predator of fish or other large inverts.
• Feeding Challenge: This species is difficult to feed artificially. While some keepers report success placing finely chopped meaty foods (e.g., clam, squid) or algae wafers directly underneath it, this is often insufficient to sustain it long-term. Success is highly correlated with tanks that are over one year old and contain 100+ gallons of stable, biologically diverse water.
• Reef Compatibility: It is Reef Safe. It will not harm corals or most ornamental invertebrates. However, it should be monitored closely for signs of parasitic snails (Thyca crystallina), which attach to and feed off the star's tissues.
• Temperament: It is Peaceful and solitary but can be kept with other docile starfish species. Avoid housing it with large, aggressive, or invertebrate-eating fish like Triggerfish, Puffers, large Hawkfish, or predatory Wrasses, which may prey on it.
• Acclimation & Care: Due to extreme sensitivity, a very slow drip acclimation for at least 2 hours is critical. Maintaining pristine, stable water parameters is the single most important factor for its survival.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Linckia laevigata
• Primary Common Name: Blue Linckia Starfish
• Other Common Names: Blue Sea Star, Comet Sea Star
• Origin: Indo-Pacific, Fiji
• Max Size: 12+ inches (30+ cm)
• Temperament: Peaceful (Very sensitive to water changes)
• Diet: Omnivore / Grazer (Microbial films, diatoms, detritus)
• Minimum Tank Size: 90 Gallons, Highly Established (1 year+)
• Reef Compatibility: Yes (Excellent for large, mature reef tanks)