reproducing starfish...

[Mappelbaum37]

Can I cut a starfish's limb and have it reproduce into a new starfish? Are there only certain types that I can do this to? Will they die if I cut a limb off?

Thanks

 

[plateboy3293]

I don't know if they'll survive but you have to cut a limb with part of the center disc for it to clone itself.

 

[widmer]

There was a thread on here a while back where people were talking about having grown starfish from the distal end of one of it's limbs (not including any part of the center). Not sure what type it was, maybe whoever they were will pipe up.

 

[nancymccall]

oh, expensive trial and error. good luck

 

[greenbean36191]

There's no simple answer. With some species they can regenerate a whole new body from just parts of a limb. Asterina and Linckia are probably the only genera in the hobby that are capable of it. Many other stars can regenerate from limbs with large enough portions of the central disk attached. Brittle/serpent stars typically need at least 3 legs and part of the central disk to regenerate. In every case though, the animals have to be in top condition to be able to regrow. If they aren't, which is probably the vast majority of stars in the hobby, you typically end up with of dead starfish bits. It's really not a great idea.