Starfish Regeneration

[Travis L. Stevens]

While not as "advanced" as other topics, I would like to get very detailed with this. First, I would like to start with a broad question. Which starfish can regrow limbs? If a limb is severed, which starfish can regerate a body on that limb? What is the regrowth time on starfish?

 

[Eve]

A sumatran or speckled star can do that. There was a thread about that not too long ago.

 

[Dwayne]

Are you looking for certain size or type of starfish? I'm sure there are large and small types of starfish that could do what you ask. I would think the time for regrowth would be proportionate to the size of the starfish or "body part" lost.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Size and availability in the hobby aren't any important factors really. Anything from little, quick growing asterina starfish to something large like crown of thorns starfish. It would be interesting to know growth rates of readily available aquarium trade starfish, because I can get them easy to do experiments. But in general, I'm more or less looking for information. Even if that means a pre-written article over experience. I hear a lot of people say a bunch of stuff about Chocolate Chip Starfish. Does anyone have any information or experience with them? What about Asterina Starfish?

 

[vanceny]

green brittle star

green brittle star

I had a brittle star that lost all 5 legs. He was just a stump. Less than a year later he's almost doubled in size and has legs close to 7 inches long.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Interesting. Do you think he could have regenerated quicker if he had more legs to capture food?

 

[vanceny]

not sure. I didn't actively feed it. I actually thought it died cause I couldn't find him behind all of the rock.