Harlequin shrimp hiding?

[_Mackus_]

I bought a harlequin shrimp about a month ago and added it to my tank in hopes of controlling an asterina star problem I've been having.

I saw the shrimp for the first couple days after I added it. It was set up under a rock ledge and had made a little pile of starfish and was usually eating one of them. After like two days, though, I never saw it again. I check fairly frequently, but never see it.

However, I think my asterina star population has been decimated. They used to be all over the glass at night and I could see them on the rockwork. Now, I still see a few, but it seems like they are dramatically reduced in number. Which leads me to think the shrimp is still alive and kicking, just remaining hidden deep in my rockwork where I can't see it.

Anyone experience something like this before?

 

[AlSimmons]

Exactly how big is your tank? If you haven't already you might want to check the tank at night with a flashlight. You should be able to spot him.

 

[MondoBongo]

without supplemental feeding, i would expect one of them to run through the available asterina population fairly quickly and starve, fyi.

not two days quickly, mind you, but probably weeks at most. mine was going through a large chocolate chip starfish every week in her prime.

it's a possibility that its hiding. it could have molted? changing tanks/water can sometimes kick off a molt in inverts.

 

[_Mackus_]

Thanks for the replies.

My tank is 125 gallons. Pretty well full of rock. Will take a look with a flashlight after lights out. I've tried plenty of times just seeing what I can see with my eyes at night, and have never seen the shrimp, but haven't used a flashlight to aid that search.

I knew eventually she'd eat all the stars, but my plan was to let it take care of all the asterina stars, capture, and then take back to the store rather than let her starve. I've had fire and cleaner shrimp in the past and they always hung out in plain view, I just never anticipated the harlequin being so shy that I'm not even certain it's still in there.

 

[_Mackus_]

So like clockwork, look who shows up as I decide to make a post about their absence.