Blue starfish are among the most popular sea stars. This is because of their vibrant blue color, their appearing in masses in tide pools, and the fact that they have a shell. While they can be found in many places around the globe, they are native to colder waters.
Blue starfish come in a range of colors. Their common name refers to their appearance or the color of their body which can be light blue, dark blue, brownish blue, or even black. Other variations include white and light purple. There are several species of blue starfish. However, they all have the same overall structure.
The scientific name of blue starfish is Linckia Laevigata SeaStar. There are many names for Linckia Laevigata SeaStar such as Lincki sea star, blue starfish, seastar, starfish, five antenna, spiral starfish, and so on.
Appearance and Colour Range
Blue starfish, Linckia laevigata, referred to as blue sea stars, are a beautiful and eye-catching decoration of the sea. Blue starfish are bright blue in color. Their appearance is often compared to that of a Gulf of Mexico bluestripe pufferfish or an Indo-Pacific mimic puffer. The scales on their bodies have a distinctive iridescence that gives them their blue appearance, and this characteristic should be looked for when identifying them.
Linckia laevigata blue starfish or Blue Star Fish gets its name from its color and shape. These sea urchins look like a star-shaped light blue color sea star that is almost transparent in color. These sea stars have five rounded arms that start out blue to purple and fade to a light tan. They have 24 – 30 long pincers along their arms, arranged in four rows. Their mouth is on the bottom of the sea star below one of their tentacles and they have no eyes.
Diet
Due to the nature of wild animals, it is not possible to know the exact diet of a wild animal. Some animals prey on other living beings and some are even carnivores. Plants are also a part of the Blue Starfish (Linckia Laevigata) diet. Linckia laevigata are the most popular sea star species in the marine hobby. They require a special diet to keep them happy and healthy.
Since they are relatively small animals, they do not require much food, so they will eat almost anything that is small enough for them to catch. Important information that every aquarist should know: If a blue starfish finds an empty snail shell of a snail, it may be possible that he could move into the unoccupied shell and live there for the rest of his life.
Blue starfish diet consists of algae, decaying seagrass, and mollusks like clams. Blue linckia feeds on sessile organisms that live on rocky surfaces, where these starfish can anchor themselves by their tube feet. Sea stars have a unique way of feeding: they surround the prey with their arms and then push their stomaches out through their mouths. This tube-like stomach, or cardiac stomach, is lined with tiny hair-like structures called cilia, which create waves that help move food into the stomach for digestion.
Habitat
In the wild, Linckia laevigata can be found in almost every region of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The general coloration is a light brown, but it can be found in white, orange, lemon yellow, or green in color. Blue starfish are usually sighted in coral reefs and sand during the day, but at night they tend to move around quite a bit.
Linckia Laevigata is a species of sea star. It can be found in tide pools and coral reefs from the intertidal zone down to a depth of 35 meters. Blue sea stars are starfish that inhabit rocky reefs in the warmer, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific.
The blue starfish are predominantly found in the waters surrounding Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Blue starfish are by far the most common species of starfish available in the hobby today.
Reproduction and Growth of Linckia Laevigata
The Linckia laevigata starfish reproduces by both sexual and asexual means. The most common method is sexual reproduction, which results in the fertilization of eggs by sperm. The fertilized eggs grow for 10 days to undergo metamorphosis.
After metamorphosis, the young stars can swim freely but are prey to shrimp and other forms of predation. The species also reproduce by fission. The overgrown skin found on most starfish you see at aquariums or in the wild hhasactually been discarded ‘skin’ that they outgrew.
While some starfish can reproduce sexually or are capable of asexual reproduction, the blue starfish is one of the few species that can reproduce both ways; they also have a few “oddities” that show in their reproduction methods. All starfish start out as eggs and develop into larval young before becoming juveniles and then adults.
One thing that is certain about Linckia laevigata is that the adults die soon after spawning. Thus, we must turn our attention to the juvenile offspring of this species. First, whelks and fish eat them in huge numbers, so only a very small percentage of these tiny sea stars survive their first few days of life. The one thing that has saved this species from extinction is the fact that it can reproduce asexually by detaching parts of its tissue and regenerating them into new individuals (called fragmentation).
Sea stars will continuously grow and increase in size with each arm that is added. The growing process of a sea star is different from the regeneration process; growth involves the development of new tissue over an old wound, whereas regeneration forms a completely new individual.
Common Tankmates
Probably the most common starfish to be kept in the marine aquarium trade, blue starfish (Linckia laevigata) are fascinating creatures that are fairly easy to keep.
Due to its popularity in the aquarium industry, there are many different marine fish species that you will commonly see kept with Blue starfish because of their compatibility with blue starfish and good survival rate.
Some suggested tankmates for the blue linckia starfish are reef tanks with hardy fish species such as damsels, clownfish, tangs, and wrasses. The list of tankmates is really long because the blue linckia starfish is easy to deal with any invertebrates and almost all fish living in the reef tanks. So don’t be afraid to experiment a little and add this beautiful creature to your saltwater aquarium.
Blue Starfish Predators and Threats
The Linckia sea star’s predators include fish, echinoderms, and mollusks. The main predators of blue starfish are crabs, fish, and other marine creatures. The Blue Starfish will often try to escape from predators by using its spiny legs that are used for crawling on the ocean floor.
Another strategy that the Blue Starfish will employ against a predator is to regenerate lost sections of its limbs, which helps it escape and survive. Humans do not eat this species, but unfortunately, they are often collected as souvenirs.
Blue starfish are well known for the striking veins that run through their bodies and arms. Threats to blue starfish are many, including environmental changes such as temperature and water movement, chemical and physical processes, and hunting by other species.
The Blue Linckia sea star is a passive predator with no active hunting behavior to defend itself other than placing its legs in front of potential predators as a warning. Blue Linckia sea stars also have sticky tube feet on their underneath parts, which allows them to adhere themselves to rocks and other surfaces for additional defense.
Because the characteristics and behavior of Linckia Laevigata are so unusual, they can be threatened by a variety of animals when they’re in their natural environment. In the tank, you can easily protect them from most predators or threats.
Where to find a Blue Starfish?
The Blue Starfish is a variety of the Linckia Laevigata sea star. They are found predominantly in the Indo-Pacific ocean and are a deep blue color with red highlights. They are a highly sought-after species and have been known to fetch high prices on the market. Their favorite habitat is reef flats and lagoons, where food is abundant and there is lots of room for them to move around.
Blue Starfish live in tropical reefs at depths anywhere from 3-45 meters (10-150 feet), living off of algae and other forms of marine plant life that grow on the reef. You can find these marine animals in shallow waters such as bays, estuaries and lagoons. They are mainly found in tropical waters, including the Indo-Pacific Ocean and most of the central Pacific Ocean. The Blue Sea Stars can also be seen in Australia, Oceania, the Indian Ocean, Mozambique Channel, the Western Pacific Ocean, Southeast Asia, the Red Sea, and Central America.
Breeding Guide – What you need to know about breeding blue starfishes, Linckia Laevigata
Blue Starfish, Linckia Laevigata, are one of the most commonly available types of starfish in the aquarium trade. Their blue coloration gives them a striking appearance and they have a very interesting natural history that makes them fascinating pets.
When it comes to keeping these creatures happy and healthy, there is more to it than just putting them in the tank and hoping for the best. There are some considerations that go into keeping Blue Starfish so you want to be sure you’re prepared before bringing one home.
Tank size
The tank size depends on how many blue starfish you want to keep in your aquarium. You can keep one or two blue starfishes in a 20-gallon tank. If you are planning to keep more than two then you should have at least a 40-gallon tank or larger as they are messy eaters and produce high amounts of waste which will cause nitrogen build-up in the water if not removed by filtration systems.
pH, Temperature, and Salinity
Linckia laevigata is relatively easy to breed in captivity. The first step to successfully breeding them is maintaining proper water quality. The recommended pH for these species is between 8.1 – 8.4 ppm, a temperature of 75°F/24°C – 82°F/28°C and salinity of 1.023 sg – 1.025 sg. These values will promote the health of the animals and increase your chances of successful breeding.
Lighting
Blue starfish do not require intense lighting to thrive; low light intensity from T5 or LED fixtures is adequate for their care. When kept under high-intensity lighting (particularly metal halides), Linckia laevigata can easily succumb to burning, which results in its demise. To avoid this problem, position the tank away from direct sunlight and install strong filtration to prevent photochemical reactions from taking place in the water column that can lead to burning on their skin (as well as other photosynthetic invertebrates).
Waterflow
Blue stars do not need a strong current, but they will be more active in a moderate flow. They should not be in a tank that has a strong current or one that has no flow at all. A good water flow will help keep the tank clean and help feed them.water flow in your tank is one of the most important factors in keeping these animals alive. Make sure that it is not too strong or too weak. A moderate flow will work best for this animal and can help prevent algae from growing on their bodies. Slow water flow will cause them to become stressed out and die faster than usual.
Decoration
Since these blue stars can grow to be large, there is no real need for decoration in the tank. If you are wanting to breed them, then you will want to give them something to attach their babies too. Since the babies are so small, it is best if you use live rock for decoration. This way the babies can hide and you can feed them off of it as well.
It’s always a good idea to decorate your tank with plants and rocks when you’re breeding blue starfish, Linckia Laevigata. This will give them something to hide behind when they feel stressed out or threatened by other
Titling
Titling is very important when breeding blue stars. Most saltwater fish require a lot of care and attention when they are being bred, but with this species of starfish, it is just the opposite. You need to make sure that your tank is getting dirty quickly so that there is a lot of food for them. To make this happen, it is best if you overfeed your tank by about 50%.
Filtration
When it comes to filtration, Blue Starfish (Linckia Laevigata Sea Star) do not need a lot and you can use pretty much any type of filter. If you have an over-powered filter and you are concerned about excessive flow, simply add something like a sponge or powerhead over it to help diffuse the flow.
Some Fun Facts about Blue Starfish
- The Blue Linckia starfish is a pretty amazing creature. It is one of the most popular and well-known of all the starfish, not just because it’s blue, but also because it has a very large range.
- They have no eyes, so they rely on light sensors to navigate and find food.
- Blue Linckia is a unique type of starfish, with their beautiful deep blue colour and their slow movement. They can often be seen crawling along the sand during low tide in search of food.
- Starfish have no brain or heart but they have a nervous system that allows them to sense light and smell which helps them detect prey.
- These creatures can regenerate body parts if they lose them in an attack from a predator or an accident while they are out hunting for food. Their skin colour is usually bright blue although some may have a dark purple hue instead with white spots covering their surface area.
- Blue starfish are relatively easy to care for and make great additions to any reef aquarium.
- Their lifespan ranges from 3 to 5 years and they are known to grow as big as 200mm.
- The blue sea star has a very interesting method of reproduction that sets it apart from other creatures, including other species of starfish.
- Blue Starfish Linckia Laevigata has many common names such as Blue Linckia, Blue Linkia, Blue Linckia Star, Blue Sea Star, Blue Starfish, and the most common name of all – the Blue Linckia Sea Star.
- Blue Starfish have five or more arms that come out from a central point. They use their tube feet to move along the bottom of the ocean.
Blue Starfish – Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why are starfish blue?
Blue starfish are so named because of their color, which is more of a bright purple. As a member of the Asteriidae family, this sea-dwelling invertebrate is one of the common types of starfish you will find in the sea. This piece will aim to explain why the blue starfish is blue and what makes it different from the rest.
Q2. Are blue starfish poisonous?
Blue starfish are not poisonous. They are safe to touch, held by a hand, or can be kept in an aquarium. However, you should keep away from the parts of the starfish that have spiny tips because those spikes contain a small amount of poison that will contact your fingers or stomach if you eat it.
Q3. What do blue linckia starfish eat?
This blue star is known to eat a variety of algae species, with an emphasis on green algae, diatoms, and calcareous red algae. It will also scavenge for animals like algae-covered oysters and slow-moving snails. The Blue Linckia have been observed feeding on a wide range of living and dead organisms. They prefer to eat algae, but will also feed on bivalves, snails, and sometimes even other echinoderms.
Conclusion
The blue spotted starfish (Linckia Laevigata) is the most famous of the Linckia starfish species. They are really easy to identify. Their blue color, spiny arms, and ability to regenerate their limbs have made them a popular pet marine aquarium fish.
The blue starfish is a stunning species and it is my recommended species of choice for beginner aquarists. It does not require large tanks, high flow, or a brightly lit environment. Instead, you can keep it in smaller tanks with low flow or low light. They are very easy to take care of and have an attractive coloration that will both grab your attention and surprise you the first time you see them.