Harlequin Shrimp

[omard]

Here is fantastic article on keeping/care/characteristics/breeding of Harlequin Shrimp.

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/harlequinshrimp.html

Note: Tangster, notice they specifically mention they will feed on asterinas. Looks like a very well researched article. Guess that might be where mine are disappearing to.

[Tangster]

I know i had both the stars ad shrimp in the same tank for several yrs (: I'd guess if you don't feed them maybe they will eat more of them faster ? Mine starved well one did trying to force them to just eat the little PIA stars I never tried it again I fed them at least once a month

I can't read all of that LOL After about the first paragraph I can tell this guy know's nothing about what he is talking about. If they did then have written some of what was posted. But if they posted a picture of a shrimp feeding on a Asterina I'd read it more closely But when I got to the part of the starfishes spicules "I am sure", would be an irritant to corals thats was off the charts LOL and then when they went on to say Quote Once the feeding shrimp kill the starfish I do not allow it to remain in the aquarium longer than three to four days to avoid having the starfish pollute the aquarium water. I really don't think they know what they are talking about first off they never kill the star fish ! And as for star polluting the water LOL I'd say they need a ORP meter LOL I have never seen a single digit move when they are fed and as for removing anything ? I don't know how you would access it to remove it from their feeding den . Reading repeaters are about all this guy /woman are they really don't have anything to say I'd listen to.. Post me a picture of a single Asterina being even touched by a Harlequin then I'd pay attention (: I am proberley wrong about them eating the stars ? But I have never seen it nor have I ever seen a tank with the stars be cleard out with the addition of the shrimps , Also the part about the brittle star not being touched by them LOL Try it tell me what you come up with.. Lost a red and black one to them.. But that was O.K as I had the red one to eat several clams before I caught it on them ..so I don't keep them anylonger myself.

[Linda]

Last night I read the "review" of these in Marine Invertebrates (Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.) and here's what it says: "Its diet is specific; nothing else will do but live sea stars. It has been observed to dine on the legs first, leaving the oral disc for last, and in the process keeping the star alive as long as possible." My first thought was how expensive it would be to feed on a regular basis, although I imagine it must take them a couple/few days to eat a star?!

[omard]

Originally Posted by Linda

Last night I read the "review" of these in Marine Invertebrates (Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.) and here's what it says: "Its diet is specific; nothing else will do but live sea stars. It has been observed to dine on the legs first, leaving the oral disc for last, and in the process keeping the star alive as long as possible." My first thought was how expensive it would be to feed on a regular basis, although I imagine it must take them a couple/few days to eat a star?!

Actually takes couple of weeks...then they can go week or so without feeding. @$15 a pop for sand stars it is kind of expensive - but way worth it to have such a pair of beauties in tank.

[Linda]

So it works about to be ab $15/mo to feed them -- that's not too bad. Is it gruesome , or does the HS hide his meal?

[njdevilsfan]

i bought 1 in late may to feed on asternias my little star problem is down at least 80 percent i have never feed my shrimp anything and he is still alive so.....

[Linda]

Originally Posted by njdevilsfan

i bought 1 in late may to feed on asternias my little star problem is down at least 80 percent i have never feed my shrimp anything and he is still alive so.....

Well, there you go...nothing is written in stone, as they say.

[omard]

Originally Posted by Linda

So it works about to be ab $15/mo to feed them -- that's not too bad. Is it gruesome , or does the HS hide his meal?

The Harly's do drag their prey back to their favorite cavern. They are very timid and will not feed where a bunch of fish are darting about.

Have heard, but not certain about, that they envenomate the starfish to paralyze/anesthetize it before eating. Don't know if this is true or just wishful thinking. Is true, the starfish is not moving much after capture.

Never thought of a starfish having much of a brain...probably does not even know what is going on as it is being consumed.

Here is video I posted earlier showing starfish being captured and being hauled back to lair.

Kind of neat to watch.

[omard]

Originally Posted by Tangster

I know i had both the stars ad shrimp in the same tank for several yrs (: I'd guess if you don't feed them maybe they will eat more of them faster ? Mine starved well one did trying to force them to just eat the little PIA stars I never tried it again I fed them at least once a month

I can't read all of that LOL After about the first paragraph I can tell this guy know's nothing about what he is talking about. If they did then have written some of what was posted. But if they posted a picture of a shrimp feeding on a Asterina I'd read it more closely But when I got to the part of the starfishes spicules "I am sure", would be an irritant to corals thats was off the charts LOL and then when they went on to say Quote Once the feeding shrimp kill the starfish I do not allow it to remain in the aquarium longer than three to four days to avoid having the starfish pollute the aquarium water. I really don't think they know what they are talking about first off they never kill the star fish ! And as for star polluting the water LOL I'd say they need a ORP meter LOL I have never seen a single digit move when they are fed and as for removing anything ? I don't know how you would access it to remove it from their feeding den . Reading repeaters are about all this guy /woman are they really don't have anything to say I'd listen to.. Post me a picture of a single Asterina being even touched by a Harlequin then I'd pay attention (: I am proberley wrong about them eating the stars ? But I have never seen it nor have I ever seen a tank with the stars be cleard out with the addition of the shrimps , Also the part about the brittle star not being touched by them LOL Try it tell me what you come up with.. Lost a red and black one to them.. But that was O.K as I had the red one to eat several clams before I caught it on them ..so I don't keep them anylonger myself.

Agree...some of their findings appear to be a bit bozo. But still a very informative article.

[Tangster]

I've seen pictures of his tanks LOL That he proudly sent and posted.. As for the shrimps killing the star ?? I have let them pounce on several different types to see and after they had it down and the thing looks dead you no what they do it just does not move But after a day in the sump the stars all of them must have came back to life I guess as they where fine in less then 24 Hrs.. I know they don't decay or the ORP meter would show it also.. as for removal LOL whats left to remove ?? thats why the eat on one tentacle abit then rotate untill they reach the main disk then its curtains The star ain't coming back from that..