Brittle star ripped in half?

I got some live rock a few days ago and there were a couple small black brittle stars in with it. They have done fine the past few days, but this morning when I woke up one of them had been ropped in half. Hey is laying there with a few of his legs laying around him and his body is very damaged, but not eaten. All I have in the tank right now is a few small hermit crabs, two brittle stars (very small), and some feather dusters. IDK what happened, anyone have any ideas?

 

He may be dying, when they're sick they shed their legs! ya might end up with more though if each leg grows a body!

 

Can they do that!?!?

 

I think as long as they get a little of the body with it they can! I know they can regrow their legs, and i think they can get split and grow 2 new1

 

If a starfish is dying you will see it melting. If legs come off or its ripped, thats fine. It will grow back. As cosmo said it only needs a leg and part of a body. Creepiest thing you will see is one starfish leg walking across your sand bed eating.

 

I just told my girlfriend that the ripped off leg is walking around! lol. This is the reason I love salt water critters, you never really know what they will do next! I was just worried that something had attacked it or something. I love this hobby. ;D