Serpent star lost legs

Another question from me

My friend gave me his serpent starfish. I believe he exposed it to air, because 3 days after I got him in my tank all of his legs fell off, or the salinity was just too much for it. I do have a brittle star that is living happily in my tank for 5 months now. My PH is 8.3, Calcium is 400, Nitrates .25, nitrite 0. My salinity is a little high, but I have always had it slightly high 1.026/7. I would worry more about the salinity, but my corals are growing like crazy and my fish are really happy. I did the drip with the starfish to acclimate.

OK here is my question. the legs are still moving 2 weeks later. Especially during feeding time. I'm assuming they are all still alive. Has anyone every had or heard of a starfish growing into another starfish just from a leg? If so how long does it take?

Thanks,

 

yep...you can create a new starfish by cutting off a leg! ODD I KNOW!

Think of those little bitty white stars that reproduce all the time. Little legs drop off and new stars form

 

Thank you very much!!!

 

I actually have a friend whose brittle star randomly had its legs fall off. However, this also happened the same night his yellow tang died, so we think something sinister is at work. His star died about a week later in the Q tank.

Hopefully yours will be ok! With more brittle stars.

 

The legs just kind of lay on the sand, but when I feed the fish, the legs start wiggling around and go crazy. They move more and more each day. This is so weird, yet so cool!!

 

Do you have an aggressive fish, this happens mainly with brittle stars(brittle=delicate), if they are attacked they may lose a leg to give as a to get away. Also, don't starfish have to eat, how can legs do that if the mouth is in the central disk.