Starfish?
- Thread starter fuzzy
- Start date
tomato clown
Member
Ya know somethin,
My wife bought me 2coral combo rocks for x-mas and I just finished picking off 3 starfish that had 6 legs each. Mine aren't that big though, they are only about 1/8 -1/4 inches. I was looking arround to find out what they were and all I came up with was that they are a form of a parasite. I would also like to know what these are, and what am I to do with them now?
Dan
They look like this on my rock
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Tomato Clown ]
also fshhub here is the reproduction process...Most echinoderms are of one ---, and reproduce by shedding their gametes directly into the water. The gametes soon fuse, and the developing embryo spends three days to three months floating in the water column. It then metamorphosises into a small replicate of the adult. During their embryological development these animals show many similarities to vertebrate animals, and with the exception of tunicates (AKA sea squirts), are our closest relatives in a salt water invertebrate aquarium! Some females of certain species will retain the eggs in their body, and collect the sperm from to water. They will then brood the developing ju- venile for some time, ultimately releasing small replicates of themselves. In addition many species of starfish and brittle stars can reproduce by breaking off a small piece and having this piece generate a whole new individual. In some species of brittle stars this may be the primary method of reproduction. (witch is what I believe you were thinking about)
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Tomato Clown ]
My wife bought me 2coral combo rocks for x-mas and I just finished picking off 3 starfish that had 6 legs each. Mine aren't that big though, they are only about 1/8 -1/4 inches. I was looking arround to find out what they were and all I came up with was that they are a form of a parasite. I would also like to know what these are, and what am I to do with them now?
Dan
They look like this on my rock
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Tomato Clown ]
also fshhub here is the reproduction process...Most echinoderms are of one ---, and reproduce by shedding their gametes directly into the water. The gametes soon fuse, and the developing embryo spends three days to three months floating in the water column. It then metamorphosises into a small replicate of the adult. During their embryological development these animals show many similarities to vertebrate animals, and with the exception of tunicates (AKA sea squirts), are our closest relatives in a salt water invertebrate aquarium! Some females of certain species will retain the eggs in their body, and collect the sperm from to water. They will then brood the developing ju- venile for some time, ultimately releasing small replicates of themselves. In addition many species of starfish and brittle stars can reproduce by breaking off a small piece and having this piece generate a whole new individual. In some species of brittle stars this may be the primary method of reproduction. (witch is what I believe you were thinking about)
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Tomato Clown ]
fuzzy
New Member
So are you trying to tell me that this little girl might split into two and that is why it has so may legs? Thats wonderful. But the other guys comment about his being parasites scares me. Do you think mine could be a parasite? It doesnt look like the picture he posted. She doesnt have long legs like a brittle star but more like short legs like a chocolate star.
kimmisue
Member
I have those guys also..I read they can do damage to your corals, but mine never have.
I would say there must be about 20 of these guys in my 55.
just read your latest post..I don't think they are parasites...or I hope not or I am in deep s***t.
Mine just live happily in my tank with no problems.
Kim
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Kimmisue ]
I would say there must be about 20 of these guys in my 55.
just read your latest post..I don't think they are parasites...or I hope not or I am in deep s***t.
Mine just live happily in my tank with no problems.
Kim
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Kimmisue ]
S
schroder_reef
Guest
We have a few of these stars, so I'm hoping that they aren't parasites, when I see them, they are just on algae on the glass, so they seem to be part of the "cleaning crew" (I hope so anyway)