Harlequin Shrimp
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13582565#post13582565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wicked_NaCl_h2o
I really like your picture aztbs..What I like about it the most is that I can finally see where their eyes are. Before these pictures I use to think the shrimps antenna were its eyes :lol:
I am thinking about getting some Harlequin Shrimp to get rid of asterina stars. Lets see if I can convince my hubby. He is totally against buying them because they are one of the preditors of the crown of thorn stars.
Isn't that a good thing?
A Crown of thorn starfish are a threat to the coral reef ecosystem.
The COT starfish eats coral polyps and a lot of then and the Harlequin shrimp is the only natural enemy of them.
Then again mabby that just means we should leave them in the ocean.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Yes, that is why he is against buying them because of them being a natural enemy to the crown of thorns.
I wonder if anyone is breeding them.. He says he would only buy these shrimp if they are tank raised.
Okay just checking thats why, it makes sence too keep as many Harlequins out in the wild to moderate how many Crown of Thorn Starfish are out there.
When I first ready about the COT starfish I knew these are trouble, they are the only posienous starfish I know of.
Since the COT starfish has a odd specalised diet of corals I found it interesting that nature developed a creature that only ate starfish and will kill them even though the COT star is fairly poisenous to other creatures.
More reason to adore the Harlequin shrimp!
Cheers
When I first ready about the COT starfish I knew these are trouble, they are the only posienous starfish I know of.
Since the COT starfish has a odd specalised diet of corals I found it interesting that nature developed a creature that only ate starfish and will kill them even though the COT star is fairly poisenous to other creatures.
More reason to adore the Harlequin shrimp!
Cheers
philter4
New member
They rarely eat crown of thorns in nature. While they do eat them they do not prefer them and it takes a up to two weeks to eat one so even if they are left in the ocean it isn't a big impact on the population of these stars. I remember reading that there was a breeding program where they were bred then released on crown of thorns, the problem was that after they ate the first one, they just went after their prefered stars and only occasionally ate crown of thorns.
They will also eat serpent and brittle stars. The one in my avatar was eating a brittle star when I collected it. In tanks they eat any star available, including serpents, Aztbs, if yours didn't eat the serpent you are just lucky or give them enough for them to eat easier prey. They prefer to eat stars that they can easily keep upside down, serpents and brittle stars can quickly right themselves giving the shrimp more trouble. Still, I have had mine eat a red serpent star while chocolate chips were available to them.
They will also eat serpent and brittle stars. The one in my avatar was eating a brittle star when I collected it. In tanks they eat any star available, including serpents, Aztbs, if yours didn't eat the serpent you are just lucky or give them enough for them to eat easier prey. They prefer to eat stars that they can easily keep upside down, serpents and brittle stars can quickly right themselves giving the shrimp more trouble. Still, I have had mine eat a red serpent star while chocolate chips were available to them.
Anybody ever fed theirs urchins?
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Is it even possible for them to eat urchins?
I hope not, I have a urchin and a sea biscuit (that is related to the urchin)
revaltion131
New member
From what I've read, you're dead on. In a lot of cases, if you want to train your shrimp onto other food sources, it requires something akin to starving them and even then, them taking the alternate source is not a given.
When it comes to a spike in the tank from the star dying, I can't speak to issues with the spike. My shrimp eats the full star, which means that he does do fatal damage to its oral disc, but I have yet to see any problems arise from. I don't even get iffy PE on some of my more delicate corals.
As far as my single male, he eats Sand-sifters. He can polish off a tiny one in well under a week, but takes more like 2-3 full weeks on an "average" sized star. He will usually eat the entire star and never leave any of it. He's in my 34 gallon, which is a mixed reef with peaceful fish and no even slightly questionable fish when it comes to shrimp safety. I will say though, he doesn't completely care for angels or other fish that show similar grazing behavior as his lair seems to be a great place for them to pass through.
Here are a few pics.
I do have a question about my star's health this time around, though. Previously, I had never seen even a pod check out the shrimp's food. Tonight, even before lights-out, I saw one of the 4"-6" bristleworms in my tank with its head up under some of the flesh on the star's oral disc. It's a brand new star and only one leg has been consumed so far, at its usual length down to the base on the oral disc. Is the star dead and should I try to remove it?
After hes done with all the astrea stars I'd find him alternate food source or find him another home.
They can survive 2-3weeks between feedings but they will go though all the astrea's in a 55g in pretty short order.
Cheers
They can survive 2-3weeks between feedings but they will go though all the astrea's in a 55g in pretty short order.
Cheers
revaltion131
New member
I agree. The issue is also if it will eat the Asterinas. Each shrimp has its own individual tastes. Judging by the rate at which my shrimp eats his sand-sifters, it would probably take only a few hours to get through an average-sized Asterina. In most cases, if you want to keep the shrimp long-term, the stars they need to feed off aren't that expensive. Your LFS may even work a deal with you; mine gives me SS stars for about half-off because they're shrimp food.
buttons buster
New member
zoafan i'd love to see some pictures
michael_cb_125
New member
Here are my little beauties:
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~Michael
******* width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i158.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0636.flv">
******* width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i158.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0719.flv">
~Michael
michael_cb_125
New member
Don-Coraleone
New member
i was wondering a put a pair in last week. with a blue linkia they ate 2 of the legs and a whole in the center. the starfish is dead will they still eat it or should i pull it out and give them another one?
michael_cb_125
New member
It depends. If they abandon the starfish, you should remove it. Usually they will stay with the star until it is completely eaten.
If you let it sit, it may foul your tank.
~Michael
If you let it sit, it may foul your tank.
~Michael
Don-Coraleone
New member
we'll they just went back to the starfish for about a minute and they both left again. i dont think they want the star anymore.
michael_cb_125
New member
Then I would take it out.
~Michael
~Michael
