Starfish seperating arms

[Hp1836]

I have had a large starfish for about a month now. I think Nardoa galatheae. About a week ago a long cut appeared overnight down each of its arms and a hole started growing in its center. I first thought it was attacked by something and was dieing as it progressively looked worse and worse. However it kept moving around. Yesterday I watched each of its arms slowly divide off and today I can see all 5 arms slowing moving around completely independent of eachother.

Has anyone ever seen this before? I know in nature some starfish can regrow by diving down the center however I have not heard of all 5 arms splitting. Thoughts on if they will regenerate?

Here is 2 of the arms on the glass this

morning

 

[Rollnwthdatide]

Starfish aren't really good for the home aquarium. They all usually starve, waste away, and die. The arms require a portion of the mouth or they will not regenerate if I'm not mistaken.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Freaky, man, freaky! ;)

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

It's dying...possibly from Sea Star Wasting Disease...there are multiple environmental factors that can cause the onset of this condition. I'm actually writing an article about it for the magazine I write for.

 

[Hp1836]

Are you sure? I would agree with you except all 5 arms are still climbing around and is actually looking like the ends of them might have started to heal over a little. For now I'm going to let them be and keep watching

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Are you sure? I would agree with you except all 5 arms are still climbing around and is actually looking like the ends of them might have started to heal over a little. For now I'm going to let them be and keep watching

Are you implying that the severed arms are regenerating into 5 starfish?

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

If a starfish loses 5 arms you definitely won't get 5 new starfish regenerating from the 5 arms alone.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Fission requires the Central disk...arm evisceration is essentially similar to when a lizard loses its tail. An arm alone won't grow a new starfish.

 

[Hp1836]

Are you implying that the severed arms are regenerating into 5 starfish?

I have no idea. Is that possible or maybe just keep surviving on their own? Starfish are clearly strange animals. I just would think if it was dieing then it would of died and the seperate arms would not keep moving on their own.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

I have no idea. Is that possible or maybe just keep surviving on their own? Starfish are clearly strange animals. I just would think if it was dieing then it would of died and the seperate arms would not keep moving on their own.

Neither are possible. I don't think they are moving on their own. I think it's dead and your seeing water movement make dead arms sway...how many dead starfish have you seen?

 

[Hp1836]

I guarantee 100% they are alive. As the per the picture I posted they climb all over the glass as well as the rock. They grip tight and slowly walk around. This is not swaying in the water

Neither are possible. I don't think they are moving on their own. I think it's dead and your seeing water movement make dead arms sway...how many dead starfish have you seen?

 

[JumboShrimp]

If the 5 arms are still moving in 5 days, call "Ripley's Believe It or Not" to send a camera crew. :)

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

If the 5 arms are still moving in 5 days, call "Ripley's Believe It or Not" to send a camera crew. :)

It would be worth a call to them or National Geographic...only certain species can reproduce by fission and that's not how they do it...again, the central disk must be intact in those certain species. (Not completely intact, but part of it must be present).

 

[rhitee93]

I'm not a starfish expert by any means, but some other animals that have a distributed neuro system will continue to look "Alive" long after they are cut up. The slower the metabolism the longer they seem to go. We had a snapping turtle heart beating in a petri dish for a day once. No turtle attached, just the heart.

 

[Hp1836]

Took this picture this morning. 2 of the arms are still connected by a thread but the others have all separated completely. You can clearly see they are climbing up the glass.

This started early on the 4th. Today is the 11th. Still don't know what's happening but they are definitely all still alive.

What's the number for National Geographic? Lol

 

[rhitee93]

Well, Nat Geo Headquarters: 202-857-7000

 

[JumboShrimp]

(Maybe they will maneuver themselves into forming the letters to spell "Help".)

 

[Reefering1]

Here for the updates

 

[I never finish anythi]

Natural sure is strange at times .

 

[naps]

I'm here for the updates!