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FAQs about Green Brittlestars, Ophiarachna
incrassata Reproduction Related Articles: Brittlestars, Sea
Stars, An Introduction to the
Echinoderms: The Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers and
More... By James W. Fatherree, M.Sc.
Related FAQs: Green Brittlestars
1, Green Brittlestars 2, & FAQs on:
Green Brittlestars Identification,
Green Brittlestars Behavior,
Green Brittlestars Compatibility,
Green Brittlestars Selection,
Green Brittlestars Systems,
Green Brittlestars Feeding,
Green
Brittlestars Disease, & Brittlestars 1, Brittlestars
2, Brittlestars
3, & Brittlestar ID, Brittlestar
Behavior, Brittlestar Compatibility,
Brittlestar Selection, Brittlestar
Systems, Brittlestar Feeding,
Brittlestar Disease, Brittlestar
Reproduction, & Seastar
Selection, Seastar Compatibility, Seastar
Systems, Seastar Feeding, Seastar
Reproduction, Seastar Disease,
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Nature...
Brittle Star Reproduction 9/11/07
Good evening crew.
<Greetings fellow nature lover.>
I had an incredible experience the other day when I came home from
church, my protein skimmer was overflowing all over the floor in my
house.
<Holy water?>
We lost about 5 gallons of water, which forced me to do a water change
and some tank cleaning.
<Yikes! The non-voluntary kind!>
When I had completed the cleaning, I noticed about 7 brittle stars (I am
assuming the species)
<Are micro brittle stars.>
had congregated within a colony of button polyps, and others were coming
out in other rocks. Within about a half hour of seeing them, they would
come to the top of the polyps, would stand up on their legs and started
secreting a white liquid from the underside of their body. I am guessing
that I was witnessing propagation in progress.
<Sure looks like it!>
They were gathering in groups and doing this.
<Gathering in groups gives a reproductive advantage when broadcast
spawning.>
I also had two of them climbing the back wall of the tank, one chasing
the other and secreting the fluid next to the other one. I have attached
pictures of one standing on my toadstool coral and two of the stars on
the polyps in a group secreting around each other. I thought this might
help others who are seeing this as well and hope that you can affirm or
correct my assumptions.
<I think your assumptions are spot on. Very nice photos capturing this
potentially procreative moment!>
Great site and thanks for your hard work,
<Is Bob's blood, sweat and tears with many ancillary providers.>
its well worth the read when I need the help.
<Glad you find it beneficial!
Regards,
Mich> |
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Green Brittle Star…Sick Or
Reproducing? – 04/1/08
I have had a green brittle star for 9 months in a 120 gallon tank. It has
been healthy & grown well!
<<Mmm… Ophiarachna incrassata? Can indeed get large…and is known to ambush and
eat fish>>
Without any indication of being sick, in a matter of less than 24 hours, it
rubbed itself against a rough piece of live rock & sawed itself into 4 pieces
(all but one have a chunk of the body on it).
<<You actually saw this? Strange…>>
How can you tell if it did this because it is sick or reproducing?
<<Don’t know that you can…though this seems extreme for reproductive behavior>>
What are the chances any of the pieces will survive?
<<Not uncommon for those pieces with bits of the oral disc attached to grow in
to/become whole animals again…in the wild. Not so much…in captivity>>
All four are moving about the tank with ease.
<<About all you can do is keep an eye on them…remove if they ”die” and begin to
decompose>>
Thanks for your advice.
Kristie
<<Happy to share. EricR>>
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