Can a detached starfish leg turn into another starfish?

[flydiver]

My green brittle star's body has almost completely disintegrated, yet some of his(?) legs are still moving, including its sensory tentacles underneath. Is it possible that these legs can turn into a completely new brittle star? Is it even possible for it to regenerate a new main body section?

 

[bang guy]

If there is a part of the central disk attached then the answer is yes.

 

[flydiver]

I've kept the lights off since I noticed the problem (36 hours, more or less)... when should I turn the lights back on? I have other fish and soft corals in the same tank and I'm concerned about them too.

 

[bang guy]

I'm not sure the lights would affect it much.

 

[flydiver]

The lights stimulate it more- surely it stresses it out more, thus shortening the likelihood of survival..? It's active at night, and I don't see how it's going to be able to hide very well without a body. Plus, it would have to use more energy to do so. Am I thinking way too much? =

 

[bang guy]

I don't know, this is out of my zone of expertise. You may be right but if it were me I would stick to a natural lighting schedule.