{"product_id":"blue-star-sea","title":"Blue Linckia Sea Star | Linckia laevigata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Blue Linckia is pure reef eye-candy — a vivid electric-blue sea star that grazes rock for film and detritus. Stunning, but genuinely demanding: it needs a large, mature system and the slowest of acclimations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinckia laevigata inhabits shallow coral reefs and rubble flats across the tropical Indo-Pacific, roaming hard surfaces for biofilm and micro-organisms. Recreate this with a mature reef rich in live rock and an established microfauna population.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFive smooth, cylindrical arms in brilliant blue — occasionally purple or mottled — radiating from a small central disc. A large adult can span up to about 30 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompletely peaceful and reef safe, harming no corals or fish. It simply grazes slowly over rock and sand, day and night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrazes film algae, biofilm, sponge and micro-detritus from live rock. There is no reliable prepared substitute, so it depends on a mature tank with abundant natural growth — a common reason specimens slowly starve in newer systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the more delicate reef invertebrates. Provide a well-established aquarium of at least 200–300 litres with excellent, stable water quality and generous live rock. It is highly sensitive to salinity swings and to copper, so acclimate very slowly by drip over two hours or more. Inspect new stars for pale patches or lesions, which signal shipping stress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBroadcast spawns in the wild and is not bred in home aquaria. Linckia can regenerate arms and occasionally reproduce by fragmentation of the disc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLinckia laevigata\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Linckia Sea Star, Blue Star\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropical Indo-Pacific\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 30 cm across\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 litres or larger, well established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDetritivore – biofilm, micro-fauna \u0026amp; detritus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpecific Gravity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.023–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature reef aquariums (experienced keepers)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (marine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful reef fish, reef-safe shrimp and snails, and corals in an established system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHarlequin shrimp (which prey on sea stars), pufferfish, triggerfish and large predatory wrasses that pick at the arms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian marine livestock for in-store collection or local delivery. Drip-acclimate all new invertebrates and never expose them to copper-based medications.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351900242211,"sku":null,"price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234109767971,"sku":"AA3431","price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55351900274979,"sku":null,"price":39.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-30cm)","offer_id":55351900307747,"sku":null,"price":44.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/blue-starfish.jpg?v=1781501751","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-star-sea","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}