brittlestar reproduction

[bobbet43]

does anyone know about their reproduction? i was cleaning one of my tanks today and found about a dozen little ones about 2 inches long i have a large green brittlestar which has to leave now due to it has started to hunt my fish now. i don't think the litte ones are hitchhikers due to nothing new added to the tank in about a year

 

[graveyardworm]

Some are broadcast spawners, meaning sperm and eggs are released into the water column, some also reproduce by fission ( asterina would be a good example of this method ), and its possible that some are brooders.

The little ones are possibly microstars that hitchhiked in awhile ago an have gone unnoticed.