Brittle Star Gives Birth

[richl]

I obtained one fairly large Brittle Star back in March. When I first got him (I thought), he was fairly active and visible quite often. The last month or so, he kept to himself staying out of sight in the rocks. I feared that maybe he was ill. To my surprise, I saw a little Brittle Star about the size of a half-dollar crawling on the rocks last night. The mom (I guess it's a 'she') continues to stay mostly within her rock cave, just extending her arms now and then. Anyway, can I assume that Brittle Stars don't have male/female sexes and, if not, where did the little one come from. I don't have other stars, haven't added new rock in months, etc. Also, could there be more than one baby star? Any special care I shoudl take? I'm thinking of spot feeding to make sure they get some food. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by RichL
http:///forum/post/3107753
I obtained one fairly large Brittle Star back in March. When I first got him (I thought), he was fairly active and visible quite often. The last month or so, he kept to himself staying out of sight in the rocks. I feared that maybe he was ill. To my surprise, I saw a little Brittle Star about the size of a half-dollar crawling on the rocks last night. The mom (I guess it's a 'she') continues to stay mostly within her rock cave, just extending her arms now and then. Anyway, can I assume that Brittle Stars don't have male/female sexes and, if not, where did the little one come from. I don't have other stars, haven't added new rock in months, etc. Also, could there be more than one baby star? Any special care I shoudl take? I'm thinking of spot feeding to make sure they get some food. Any suggestions? Thanks

Don't try and spot feed...you will land up with algae blooms from overfeeding. Most likely the smaller star was a hitchhiker, they get so deep in the rocks you wouldn't see it until it grew a bit. A chunk of raw shrimp once every two weeks is enough for them...if anything dies consider them fed for that week. Just dump the chunk of shrimp into the rock work or just outside of the rocks just at lights out...if you have moonlights you can watch it eat.

 

[richl]

not so sure it was a hitchhiker. I noticed a few weeks ago that it seemed to have a bubble on it's abdomin. Anyone have experience with brittle star births?

 

[nw2salt08]

Brittle stars split from the body to produce a new star. If you saw a bubble on the body of the original star then there's a possibility that you do have a new starfish. I would as Ophiura. She's the star guru on here. She's very knowledgeable on the subject.

And congrats on the new star!

 

[mr.clownfish]

i think ophiura would now this.

 

[ophiura]

Brittlestars spawn like most other animals. Fertilization is external in most cases. There are exceptions, but most larger brittlestars fall into this category.
So this means one of the following things:
- it was a hitch hiker
- it was something called a "brood parasite"
Can you post a pic or please describe the coloration of your brittlestars?
Where is your rock from?
By the way, I do try and spot feed my brittlestars or at least watch them feeding. Yes, you do need to watch water parameters but really this is no different than any other animals. Brittlestars do not necessarily grow exceedingly fast and are frequently inconspicuous. It would be very easy for you to miss them, in most tanks. I have 10 large brittlestars in a 45g, and I am challenged to find them (even knowing they are there, and having studied brittlestars specifically for around 10 years )