Harlequins a Good Choice?

[windyridge]

So far I am happy with my tank. No algae. BUT I do have a small asterina problem, the 6 legged predatory kind. I haven't caught any recent damage but I want to get rid of them so I am thinking about a pair of Harlequin shrimp. I have a brittle star, a big one, and a baby one. I have read they leave those alone and do a good job on the stars. What do people think? I haven't seen them at ABC Reefs but I could order a pair.

 

[Jstn]

I had a ton of Astraea stars in my 40, after maybe a month the shrimp got then all. Cool invert, but after then started costing me in chocolate stars. So unless your tank is large, it's more of a temporary resident IMO.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm not a fan of Harlequin's for Asterina eradication.
I tried it a long time ago- long before I heard of anyone else attempting it.
(Old threads are in RC archives.)
Make no mistake about it- I don't like Asterina in my reef aquarium because there's no telling what they might eat, but I would suggest controlling their population with Wrasses, manual removal and limiting their food sources.


Tip: Nardoa species stars eat Asterina

 

[NoobtoSalt]

I had a couple hundred of the black asternia zoa eating stars. Got a harlequin and now only have about 1 or 2 stars left. I have many larger small brittle stars and no issues. Going to be selling it in the next day or so because the lack of food source

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[tent boy]

Unless your willing to feed it chocolate chip starfish every month, don't get one. Mine went through the asterinas in less than two months and I had a ton of them in a 170 gallon tank.

 

[afamousjohnson]

Sure their feeding needs suck but you will soon fall in love. They themselves otherwise are sweet escpecialy a pair. Great addition. Just get a 7$ chocolate and either keep it below and though it sounds mean use legs or chop n freeze like I did to feed when they would come out.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

even if you choose to use them

even if you choose to use them

the shrimp are a short term solution.

Additionally, decaying "feeder stars" foul the aquarium water.
Expect an increase in red slime / Cyanobacteria unless filtration is good.

 

[StaghornE]

I keep a frozen chocolate chip starfish in the freezer and slice a small piece off a couple times a week to feed my harlequin. Works great

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

works great for how long?

The shrimps won't find EVERY Asterina and all it takes is one Asterina arm to start a new plague.
To get rid of Asterina one must adjust environmental conditions in addition to providing an Asterina pred IME.

The shrimp are kewl. Enjoy 'em while you have them.
Feeding them frozen starfish arms is a PITA that's worse than Asterina IMO.

 

[Foody]

Here is an interesting article re: the asterina stars offering some insight.

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/45-reefkeeping-101-

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I bought one, used it for 6 months to take care of the problem and then returned it for credit.

 

[akitareefer]

I'm an invert fan and I enjoy my Harlequin. Don't find feeding him more of a pain than anything else in the tank Nothing more hilarious then a dancing shrimp