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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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