About Blue Linckia
The blue Linckia is one of the most photogenic inverts in the hobby and one of the hardest to keep. Most specimens slowly starve over 6–12 months due to undetected nutritional deficiencies. Don't buy unless you can verify long-term sourcing.
Linckia laevigata, sometimes called the "blue Linckia" or blue star, is a species of sea star commonly found in the shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Brilliant cobalt-to-azure blue five-armed sea star. Photogenic and frequently displayed — and one of the hardest inverts in the hobby to keep alive.
In your tank. Most specimens slowly starve over 6–12 months due to undetected nutritional deficits that aren't visually obvious until it's too late. Vibrant color and full arm posture early on can mask declining health.
Care notes. Only attempt in well-established systems with verified mature microfauna. Acclimate over 2+ hours via drip. The species is widely sold but rarely thrives long-term in home aquaria.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs; widely available ($20–50). Carnivore/detritivore — depends on biofilm and microfauna; target feeding rarely accepted.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related invertebrates
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 207610).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) melianie_max_and_asker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).