Hoeven's Wrasse and starfish

[Prairie Reef]

I was looking at getting a starfish - but since I initially did my research months ago on starfish I have (inadvertently - long story) obtained a Hoeven's Wrasse.

A quick review indicates they will eat small shrimp - and especially cleaner shrimp - but may fair well with peppermint shrimp if well fed. So far he's de-armed a scarlet legged hermit crab, who survived and likes to shake nassarius like a dog with a bone, but doesn't appear to have killed any of them either.

but I digress...

How about starfish - linkia? Nardoa?

 

[phoenixstar89]

starfish should be fine. by hoeven's wrasse I'm assuming you have a melanurus wrasse. mine ate cleaner shrimp and some snails but never bothered with starfish.

 

[Prairie Reef]

Thanks! I'm disappointed about the cleaner shrimp, but that is what I consistently see. Pep's MAY be OK, but cleaners are (in most references) fair game in their mind.

Glad to hear a starfish is an option in the future still. I'm settling in a BTA at the moment

 

[KSzegi]

I had a pair of melanarus with a pair of cleaner shrimp - never bothered them at all. I ended up having to get rid of the pair when the female started eating my clams ....

 

[Prairie Reef]

these fish sound really hit and miss! I did see one place that suggested the cleaner shrimp would be OK if they were in the tank to start with, and big.... maybe it would be worth a $30 experiment just to see if it work