The invention relates to a device (1) for gripping and holding PET bottles in filling systems or the like, having a carrier body (3) that can be mounted on a star-shaped element (2) or the like, and spring-loaded gripper arms (7) that can pivot on said carrier body. The aim of the invention is to allow simple, rapid, and low-cost replacement of the gripper arms. To achieve this, a fixing element (11) is positioned between the bearing ends (13) of the gripper arm (7), wherein the bearing ends (13) of the gripper arms comprise an edge recess (14) allowing removal of the gripper arm (7) past the fixing element (11) when a gripper arm (7) is positioned in the extreme opening position.