Micro Brittle Star Spawning Event

[EricR]

I noticed multiple micro brittle stars spawning simultaneously around my tank last night.
I have quite a few so see spawning events periodically but, the number of stars all out at once was a first for me in my (40 gallon) tank.
*I know it’s not some rare event but I got a kick out of it anyway

Should’ve thought to grab a phone/camera right away but, instead, kinda watched for a while before I thought to grab my iPhone and filter.
*also realize I didn’t get a full tank picture or video (to show they were everywhere) but oh well

Below are a couple of videos and pictures that give some idea near the end of the gathering.
*YouTube videos always start blurry for me but here goes anyway


Here’s one I caught still spawning:




Here’s a “look around” to give some idea of how many stars were all over the place in my tank:

 

[Subsea]

Very neat indeed. And a testament to your reefkeeping skills. I also have numerous micro starfish but never have witnessed a spawning event much less mass spawning.

 

[Crabs+Shrimps-69]

Do you know of any ways to encourage the spawning events?

 

[BryanM]

So cool!

 

[EricR]

Do you know of any ways to encourage the spawning events?

I don't know of any "good" ways.
Environmental changes definitely seem to trigger it,,, like as a species' survival mechanism.

My examples of triggers would be something like:

1. Tank transfer (3.5 years ago) was a definite trigger
2. I'm pretty haphazard with water changes so often drop the temperature in my DT a few degrees along with just dumping buckets of water right on top of everything ... seems to sometimes be a trigger also

 

[Crabs+Shrimps-69]

I don't know of any "good" ways.
Environmental changes definitely seem to trigger it,,, like as a species' survival mechanism.

My examples of triggers would be something like:

1. Tank transfer (3.5 years ago) was a definite trigger
2. I'm pretty haphazard with water changes so often drop the temperature in my DT a few degrees along with just dumping buckets of water right on top of everything ... seems to sometimes be a trigger also

I also have a minor temperature drop after water changes.
Hopefully that will encourage them to spawn one day!