harlequin shrimp ?'s

[Dorado13]

I'm thinking about buying a harlequin shrimp or two and wanted to get some feedback from those who have experience with them. How long does a large chocolate chip starfish last one. Are they very active or do they like to hide a lot. Finally are they worth getting in your opinion?

 

[philter4]

They are one of my favorite shrimp, the one I have I collected in HI in nov of 2006. I collected a pair, but the male didn't survive the trip back to my home in FL. There is a photo of her in my gallary, the pic with the longnose b/f in the upper right corner. I collect stars for her and a star lasts about 7-10 days, she has a preference for linkia (the pair was eating a linkia type when I found them) but if I can't find them or if I can't dive (weather or work or whatever) I've used serpents and chocolate chip in the past. the chocolate chips last about the same, 7-10 days, but serpents seem to fall apart in just a few days so I try not to use them unless it is a last resort. I recommend them if you can get over the food issue, they take no substitute and to some hobbyiests this is hard to handle.

Good luck

 

[Dorado13]

Oh ok so the stars don't last very long at all. Does yours eat the whole star or only the feet? I have heard different stories. Also, does your come out a lot? They're so beautiful, I would hate for it to be hiding all the time.

 

[philter4]

Mine eats the whole star, all the ones I've ever kept did also. They don't hide, the guady colors are usually a warning that they taste bad, I don't know of any research to study this, but J. Hoover suggested the possibility of that fact in his Hawaiian invert book, what ever the reason, they are out all the time.

 

[urbanthreatz]

I've had one for almost 6 months now (my last one died unexpectedly) he's grown substantially since i bought him. He's an amazing little creature, i can almost hand feed him a starfish! He usually prefers the chocolate chip, but he's eaten others (not so fond of the sand sifters though) I STRONGLY reccomend getting one, they look amazing in your tank, you just have to be prepared to feed them weekly.