Starfish Dicing

[jkp rules]

Anyone ever cut their starfish in half to get two? I was saying how I had done it before to someone at an LSF and a guy said that he read that no ones ever documented cutting one in half and getting two. But that sounds wrong to me. Input?

 

[renogaw]

only some stars reproduce this way afaik. you're better off pm'ing ophiura and asking her, if she doesnt respond to this post. she's the resident star guru

 

[texasmetal]

Doesn't work in captivity often.

 

[jkp rules]

do both halves usually die, or does one typically struggle on?

 

[texasmetal]

You risk both halves dying.
If your water conditions are absolutely perfect and there's enough food to support two starfish you might get lucky. Would be a neat experiment, but that's just what I would consider it, an experiment.

 

[jkp rules]

well, i cut my serpant and one of my brittle stars in half about a week ago. so far as i can tell, all four halves are still alive and moving around, and whenever i see one, it seems as though they are healing. so thats pretty awsome.

 

[morrowss]

Umm.... that just seems kinda wrong...hope it works out for ya

 

[eric b 125]

JKP: what did it look like when you cut your stars? what did you cut them with? did you just slice em and stick em back in the tank? not that i plan on doing this, i'm just wondering.

 

[-tara33-]

i cringe at the thought

 

[texasmetal]

Serpents are pretty good about regenerating. I wouldn't try it with any of the prettier stars though.