Got my Harlequin Shrimp

[Tennyson]

Hi, just bought my Harlequin Shrimp, its a male. Spent $40 for a 1 1/4 inch long one but I was ok with the price since they're really rare around here in MD.

Anyway, I bought it and it seemed ok, but when I brought it home, I noticed it was missing both its arms and two mouth parts and one of those antennae things thats shaped like a tear. I think they fell off when I was taking it home.

Anyway, I put it in and it seemed really happy with its home. I tried to feed it some starfish so it would be able to grow those pieces back, but it denied them. So I thought it was going to molt, which it did last night. Now I can't find it, its been a little more than half a day, should it still be hiding and waiting for its shell to grow back? When will it be done?

Thanks

 

[crzy4reefs]

most shrimp take a few days to come out in the open after a molt. I would say give it food again in another day or so.

 

[charlesr1958]

It generaly takes a few days for them to come back out of hiding. After a molt their exoskeleton is soft and thus makes them more vunerable and they know it.

The Care & Breeding of Harlequin Shrimp

Chuck

 

[Tennyson]

Thanks. I've read it before.

Well the end of today will be the 3rd day since it molted and I have not seen any signs of it. I keep thinking that it died somehow because it was missing a couple parts when I bought it. Could it still be hiding for 3 days? If I put a live starfish in the tank, would it possibly come out?

Thanks.

 

[Joe-ness]

i heard that if they don't have their front claws, they will more than likely fall prey to fish.
Hopefully this hasn't occurred with you new lil guy.

 

[Tennyson]

I doubt it got eaten, there are no fish that would do that and I would know if one of my shrimp got to it. But would it take this long to hide? I'm pretty sure it molted because I saw a part of its exoskeleton, and it should have grown its arms through this molt right?

How much longer should I wait before tearing down my tank? Could it still be hiding? Is there any way I could get it to come out?

Thanks

 

[charlesr1958]

It may have died from the stress of moving and being acclimated, and if so, there is no need to tear the tank apart as it has most likely rotted away by now.
If alive, keep in mind that without a mate they are even more cryptic and unless there is a reason to come out into view, they won't. Place a starfish near its last known location and see if you can entice it out, if not, move the starfish around the tank in case the shrimp has set up shop elsewhere in the tank.

Chuck

 

[mikchabe]

My Harlequin tends to hide, especially after eating. But when I put a starfish in the tank he's generally on it within 5 minutes (its almost like he can smell it). Give it a try!

 

[Eklikewhoa]

I finally got a pair and both are right on the edge of the rockscape....there is a little cove but they are visible.

 

[Tennyson]

Thanks, I'll try it.

 

[Tennyson]

I got the chocolate chip starfish and put it on a leash and lured it around the tank, and it hasn't come out. so i think its dead oh well, I'm not so disapointed with the price I paid, its just my dad was saying I shouldn't buy it since it was missing its arms.

Thanks for the info though. I'll update you all when I get another one once I get enough money again. Thanks

 

[Grunt]

Look at night with a flashlight with a red lens (red piece of plastic or anything red and transparent). When shrimp molt they seek protection because their bodies are very soft and vulnerable. Give it some more time. He is probably hiding in a rock somewhere.

let us know if you find him

 

[Tennyson]

really? it would be hiding for a whole week?

OK, I have been looking in my tank occasionally with a red flash light but haven't found it, I'll keep looking. Thanks

 

[Tennyson]

Got a Second One

Got a Second One

I went to the LFS to get a Sea Hare, but saw they had a large female harlequin shrimp for $40. They're always pricy there but I bought it anyway. She's doing great and has survived the first night in the tank.

I fed it a starfish arm last night hoping it would eat it, but it just sat in front of it for two hours. I woke up this morning and noticed it was carrying the starfish arm to where it went. So It's carrying it, but not eating it.

Could it be full and just carrying a little snack until it gets hungry? Is this normal behavior for them? The guy @ the LFS said they wont eat any star unless its live.

Should I just try feeding it a live starfish? I really want to see it eat since this is my first harlequin.

 

[charlesr1958]

As long as the starfish is fresh, they will eat it, dead or alive. Many people keep starfish frozen for feeding their shrimp. If the shrimp is carrying the arm around, it is interested and is eating it or will soon start, if the shrimp drops it and wanders off, the arm is probably starting to rot and should be removed. But keep in mind, it can take them a great deal of time to go through a single arm.

Chuck

 

[Eklikewhoa]

Mine will take an arm any day!

 

[Tennyson]

Thanks. I came back today and saw chunks missing from the arm, so she's been eating it. I'll keep you all updated on how it goes. Thanks

 

[Guygettnby]

wich store did you buy it from? i have seen several LFS here in MD that carry them and they almost always stock them.

i have been thinking about getting a mated pair of them myself. but they are super pricey for a mated pair.

 

[Tennyson]

Well I only visit 3 or LFS's around here in maryland, and only one of them has had them, and has been getting alot more lately. I guess I should consider checking out other stores, it just takes a while to get to them, and since I can't drive myself (going on 9th grade) I have to bug my parents to take me.

Congressional Aquarium's the closest store I've visited that gets them alot, thats where I got it from. $40 for a 'jumbo' But they usually only carry one at a time, but they've been getting lots more lately.