Serpent star legs are weird and alive.

[Mark Novack]

Did a small water change to suck out some crud and saw some serpent star legs so I sucked them out too. A lumbar disk has been bothering me so the old water, about 8 gallons, sat in the pail for a week next to the aquarium. Yesterday I dumped it and the legs were as lively and crawly as ever, dancing on the patio. Tossed them back into the aquarium to see what happens. They are not too motil but they are not at all decomposing.

Should I leave them or take them out?
Part of my love for my aquarium is seeing something new that occurs naturally. Do these legs stand a chance in an aquarium to evolve into an Ophiura?

Mark

 

[VR28man]

no idea what the answer is, but i’m tagging this thread.........

 

[Mark Novack]

no idea what the answer is, but i’m tagging this thread.........

Thanks man, I'll keep observing and post any new data. I really thought that they should be dead. The water temp in the pail, following air temp, should have shown a day/night varience from 20 to 35 Celsius (71 to 98 fahrenheit up and down daily). My water cooler runs 16 hours per day to keep the aquarium in the good range (25.5 to 27 C). It's not roaches that will inherit the earth but Ophiura legs.

 

[ca1ore]

Serpent/bristle arms will move for many weeks after being disconnected from the central disc; but unless they are connected to at least a chunk of the disc, they will not regenerate into a new star.

 

[Mark Novack]

Serpent/bristle arms will move for many weeks after being disconnected from the central disc; but unless they are connected to at least a chunk of the disc, they will not regenerate into a new star.

As I thought too. Of course, there are small oprtions of central disk but what constitutes enough I have no idea. The many weeks thing...I understand but its still kind of freaky, especially considering the tempurature changes.

So, in your viewpoint, just pull them out and flush them? I'm not raising ophiura, just filling my curiosities. I must say, however, I do love invertebrates. They fascinate me. If I had no limits I would have dozens of aquariums filled with everything keepable and one just for Angels.