black brittle starfish ???????

jpslickorocks · 07/11/2006, 06:25 PM

I have a rather large black brittle star and a piece of one of his arms broke off. will it regenerate into a small black brittle star or is it just twitching like a lizard tail when it breaks off? I just want to know before I flush it.

sir_dudeguy · 07/11/2006, 06:46 PM

do you have a qt tank, or a seperate tank you could put the limb in? i think thats how some stars make more stars...by spliting..but i could be wrong

Phillygrrl · 07/11/2006, 06:51 PM

They have remarkable powers of regeneration and it is quite common. Although, feeding abilities could be impaired. A new growth can often be seen due to a different colour and sometimes even thinner than the original arm.

LeslieH · 07/11/2006, 08:13 PM

I don't think broken-off brittle star arm fragments will regrow into complete new individuals. There are a couple of seastars that can do it but not ophiuroids.

07/11/2006, 06:25 PM	#1
jpslickorocks Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Scottsdale, Az. Posts: 2,164	black brittle starfish ??????? I have a rather large black brittle star and a piece of one of his arms broke off. will it regenerate into a small black brittle star or is it just twitching like a lizard tail when it breaks off? I just want to know before I flush it. __________________ We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet: and, amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog, has made an alliance with us. Current Tank Info: I do at least five water changes a day

07/11/2006, 06:46 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	do you have a qt tank, or a seperate tank you could put the limb in? i think thats how some stars make more stars...by spliting..but i could be wrong __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/11/2006, 08:13 PM	#4
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	I don't think broken-off brittle star arm fragments will regrow into complete new individuals. There are a couple of seastars that can do it but not ophiuroids. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

07/11/2006, 06:51 PM	#3
Phillygrrl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 2	They have remarkable powers of regeneration and it is quite common. Although, feeding abilities could be impaired. A new growth can often be seen due to a different colour and sometimes even thinner than the original arm.