Do harlequin shrimp eat asternia stars?

[DivaMan]

I have been pondering this question for quite some time, as i have a plague of those little beastly stars that I have failed to get rid of. And I believe that a harlequin would be able to keep teh population at a stable level, while still being able to eat regularly. So, can, and do harlequin shrimp eat asternia stars??

 

[d9sccr]

Never experienced it myself but I've heard that yes and that some even grow the asterinias as a source of food

 

[DivaMan]

Cool, i may consider one myself for the holidays, im tired of the asternias snacking on my coralline, as well as corals and clams, not to emntion harlequins are beautiful

 

[650-IS350]

I read of people using them to control problem asterinias

 

[d9sccr]

check this out...pretty good link
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/harlequinshrimp.html

 

[cateyes]

they definitely eat them..
my husband runs a fish store and has a couple in small specimen cups for sale. every other day or so we drop a couple of asterina's in with each shrimp. they waste no time in scurrying over to them and feasting....

 

[mastou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11315181#post11315181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DivaMan
Cool, i may consider one myself for the holidays, im tired of the asternias snacking on my coralline, as well as corals and clams, not to emntion harlequins are beautiful

So the small asternias also attack corals and clams? I have never heard this before but it could make sense since I suspected them being the course of loss of some polyps and briareum...

/Magnus

 

[DivaMan]

Well, from what ive seen its not exactly direct attack, its more that they kinda amble, and when they find something tasty they digest it. Mostly i find mine snacking on corraline or just regular algalk buildup.

 

[Swanwillow]

since we're on topic..

does anyone know where a good decently priced supplier of starfish is online for harlies to eat? I want to get a pair coming up this summer, but need to start a tank for their food source first!

 

[giller]

Do they need live starfish or could I buy some and freeze them? Thanks for your commetns.

- Dave

 

[650-IS350]

I read of people doing the freeze method. But if you have a sump, you can just farm them in there.. Cut a leg and throw them back in to the sump to regenerate. ( inhumane but this is reefing )just keep a couple to rotate them.

 

[Ranzan]

i may get a h shrimp i was looking through my rocks in the buckets today(currently in transition to 90 gal) and found a couple of start fish would it be a good idea to invest in one?

 

[reefbuzz]

I have a harlequin. After he ate all of the asterinas in the main display I started buying them from LFSs. When they ran out I switched to Chocolate Chip Stars, which have worked out great, because they're hardy. I have 3 or 4 in-line and cycle them through their rehab just like DelSol650 said. They do eat fronzen legs as well, but you'd have to kill a starfish to get to that. I usually let the shrimp gnaw on one for a day or two and take it out for a few days.

 

[Swanwillow]

you don't just chop off a bit of leg? what was my main plan.