Babies

[demosthenes]

Does anyone know how a brittle star reproduces? I saw what I thought to be a baby brittle star's arm, but it turned out to be something else. Ever since I've been wondering. I have also been wondering how umbrella mushrooms reproduced, I got them from this site. T4AH

 

[reefchic]

I have noticed in my 90 gal reef that there are alot of small baby brittle stars. I have no idea how they reproduce, but I thought it was cool to see the babies. They must have come from some live rock.
Reefchic

 

[byrself]

just make sure to keep an eye on those stars, especially the ones that like to multiply. they are known to be opportunistic eaters sometimes. <img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" />

 

[reefchic]

What else can you tell me about the little stars? Will they get bigger, I know that they can eat fish, but will they eat corals or anything else?
And if they do become a problem how do I get rid of them?
Thanks
Reefchic

 

[byrself]

they are notorious coral eaters. only way to get rid of them that i found was with tweezers and a keen eye. <img src="graemlins//bah.gif" border="0" alt="[bah]" /> <a href="http://www.garf.org" target="_blank">www.garf.org</a> has some great info on predatory stars. look under aquarium pests on the garf page..hth<a href="http://www.garf.org/" target="_blank">garf.org</a>

 

[bob the builder]

Brittle stars reproduce like this:
They will drop one of there arms off, and that arm will turn into a whole nother star. Also, the male will shoot sperm into the water, while the female will shoot eggs into the water, and that will also give you little babies.
The mushroom will split or shoot sperm and eggs into the water, not very interesting aint it?

 

[demosthenes]

Well, it would be pretty cool to see a lone arm, just crawling around my tank. I think my mushroom is splitting. I'm going to be a father!

 

[reefchic]

Thanks for the tips. I would have never known otherwise. I thought the stars where harmless.
Reefchic