Gary,
Can you update and let us know exactly what you did here aren how is the "arm"? How did you cut it and how far down the arm? How did the Linckia tolerates this surgical procedure?
Thanks.
Minh, how are you? Both Linckia and arm are crawling actively {mostly at night as usual} almost a month after severing the arm with a razor just outside the oral disc region. My kids used to ask why my blue starfish had six legs. Now they ask me why the sixth leg is crawling around the tank by itself. As soon as I see new body growth or any significant developments {dead arm} I will post again on this. Thanks for your question.
Gary,
How confident are you in the ID of the Linckia laevigata? I though that they only have 5 arms. I have seen six arms starfish that looks like Linckia deverloped from servered arem but have not seen actual L. laevigata developed from one arm, not that I am an expert at starfish reproduction or anything of the kind.
Minh, similar species to Linckia include Tamaria,Leiaster,Ophidiaster and Chaetaster.
This seastar was shipped to the LFS in a box of Walt Smith Fiji plant rock.
I have heard that six-legged Linckia are fairly common.....
and although not POSITIVE of this stars' ID, I am 99% sure.
I wanted to post an update for those interested:
I was able to examine my Linckia today climbing the aquarium glass. The severed appendage is indeed growing back- the seastar will eventually {once again} have six arms. The severed arm crawled under a rockpile several weeks ago. I will be watching for it!
