Featured
Sponsor

 

 

 

FAQs about  Green Brittlestars, Ophiarachna incrassata Reproduction

Related Articles: Brittlestars, Sea StarsAn 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

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>

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>>

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Featured Sponsors:
Google
 
Web www.WetWebMedia.com

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More