Harlequin Shrimp

So how many of you guys keep Harlequin Shrimp. They are so cool to watch. not sure about the 12 bucks a month minimum to feed them but. Thanks in advance.

 

Bump bump

 

I have one for a few months now. Tank was infested with astrea snails so I got him to keep them in line. They are pretty much gone so now i need to learn how to feed him lol

 

Hoping you mean asterina starfish.

These shrimp should never be purchased simply to cut down on asterina starfish numbers. This will eventually cause them to starve to death, assuming the specimen you get even likes them. They feed on the live tube feet of starfish. In the wild they typically feed on linkia sp. and fromia sp., however many people find no problems feeding them chocolate chip sea stars. The best bet to save money is to set up a tank or sump for about 5-6 choco stars and when feeding time comes, cut one in half, placing one half with the shrimp and the other back in the tank/sump.

Simply put, unless you plan on buying linkias every 3-4 weeks (please do not even consider this, as these guys are already doing poorly in the trade) they need a species only tank. A large mixed reef tank with fish and the works would make it extremely difficult to ensure good health. After all, who wants to put choco stars in their reef? There are NO accounts of harlequins being weaned onto other foods.

I thought long and hard about getting a pair but I decided not to because I only had one tank at the time and didn't want to give up my corals for the choco stars. So I've never kept any, but put in plenty of research.

 

I did mean asterina. And like I said, I am now trying to learn how to feed him.

 

Thank you very much. Do not want the choco stars messing with my coral so probably not on the shrimp. Thanks again

 

I had a pair, I loved them and then I killed them. Since I have no access to an LFS, I would order 5 sand-sifting stars at a time. I'd feed one live and freeze the rest. When I put in a thawed frozen one they would have the same feeding response: grab it and drag it to a cave. I thought that meant they were eating it. I was wrong; I think I starved them to death. They lasted less than a year. I am very sad and regretful about what I did to them.

 

Correct; they won't eat dead starfish, only live tube feet.

To sum these guys up, they need a species only tank.