Starfish Leg still alive ?!?!?!?

[browndog]

Accidentally broke off a leg from my brittle star on Saturday. Been over 48 hours and the leg is still alive!

Will this leg turn into a whole new starfish? Takes food, no idea if it is able to ingest it (where?)

Very bizzare.

[albinooscar]

I don't know if they grow into new star fish or not but I do know that they live for a long time without their body. I cut some legs off of mine and stuck it into the fuge and the legs I put in the display tank for my Harliquin shrimp. I did this about 4 months ago and since then the shrimp died but the starfish legs are still alive and I see them on the glass every once in awhile.

Good luck with yours.
Ron

[albinooscar]

Look what I found in my reef tank a few hours after my last post!
Never the dead Frog Spawn.

PROOF THAT THE LEGS DO LIVE AND REGROW THE REST OF THE LEGS BACK!!!!! I only cut half of the leg off for my Harliquin shrimp.
http://reefparagon.com/images/136-3668_IMG.JPG

[cwbroden]

Interesting.

[romunov]

Albinooscar, what starfish is that?

[BeesGoneWild]

I think the legs can regrow back if they have a part of the center disk, im guessing as long as it has some digestive capability it could live. As far as other legs growing back its possible but they will probably just be nubs and not full legs( i would imagine though this would take a long time). Just my 2cents but i think im correct on this one :)

[albinooscar]

Originally posted by romunov
Albinooscar, what starfish is that?
It's a Linckia.



Originally posted by BeesGoneWild
I think the legs can regrow back if they have a part of the center disk, im guessing as long as it has some digestive capability it could live. As far as other legs growing back its possible but they will probably just be nubs and not full legs( i would imagine though this would take a long time). Just my 2cents but i think im correct on this one :)
This leg did not have any of the center disk on it. I only cut half of the leg off leaving the other half of the leg on the starfish. It took about 5 months to get what you see in the picture.


Ron

[jgln]

I cut some legs off of mine and stuck it into the fuge and the legs I put in the display tank for my Harliquin shrimp. I did this about 4 months ago and since then the shrimp died but the starfish legs are still alive and I see them on the glass every once in awhile.

AREN"T YOU AFRAID THEY WILL REASSEMBLE THEMSELVES AND COME AND GET YOU IN YOUR SLEEP?

[albinooscar]

Originally posted by jgln
AREN"T YOU AFRAID THEY WILL REASSEMBLE THEMSELVES AND COME AND GET YOU IN YOUR SLEEP?


LOL:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

[rascoe]

That's awesome.
I've seen people ask that question before, and the experts all laugh and say it's just a myth.

I just wish I could just keep an <b>intact </b>Linkia alive in my tank!

[Brain Finger]

they usually need part of the center disk. if you didnt have that, you got real lucky!