Let's talk about Harlequin shrimp

While on the topic of damage...

I had purchased two harlequin shrimp from a person locally who often visits california and picks up various creatures/coral and brings them back to AZ to sell. He knew very little about harlequin shrimp when I told him I was interested in purchasing a pair. His next visit to California he brought back three rather large harlequin shrimp (bigger is better right?). I was looking for a pair and he had no clue how to determine their sex. After doing my research I felt I would be able to decifer the females from males. However due to my unfamiliarity, as well as his, we we were wrong in our assumption that I was purchasing a male and a female.

First tip that they were same sex was that they squared off to fight as I was walking out to my car to return home. I noticed the two that I purchased, facing each other in the bag. Then they charged at one another and grappled for a second. I separated them a few times, but all they did was charge back at one another. So at this point I was fairly convinced that I had two same-sex shrimp. I returned inside to show this behavior to the person I bought them from, and of course, as it always happens, they reacted calm and peacefully. So he convinced me they would be ok.

Well he was wrong. They are clearly both females now.... they got into a larger skirmish in my 42gallon and one of the shrimp lost one of the large front claws.

As soon as I saw this, I separated the two shrimp and have left them that way for two-ish weeks. (luckily I had my nano tank up and running with no other inhabitants... perfect for an injured shrimp to heal).

So I thought nothing of it for some time... then the other day (about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks after the initial battle) I was looking at the injured shrimp thinking that it was a shame to have a harlequin shrimp missing one of the attractive large claws, when I noticed that a small claw was growing back in its place! it looks exactly like the large claw, just miniature. I had no idea this would happen. So for the past two days, I have been watching the little claw get bigger, slowly.

Soon I will have a healthy harly. Make that two! However my search for a mated pair of harlequins continues. I prefer local as it is easier and can be cheaper... shipping to phoenix in the middle of summer is a crazy idea.

Thanks for letting me share my experience with my harlequins. Any one else have something similar happen? A shrimp lose a claw and grow it back? I am going to try to get a photo of the smaller claw, but she has been shy (safety measures I am sure).
 
Shrimps molt. So if they lose a claw/leg they will be regenerated during next molt. After a few molts the appendage will be as good as new. =)
 
My two female harlequin shrimp

My two female harlequin shrimp

First off is the larger of my two... the obvious winner of the territory battle. Now the single harlequin in the 42 gallon ADA.

picture.php


And the smaller, and healing harlequin who is alone in the 22 gallon nano. Almost there...

picture.php
 
can harlequins go with other shrimps such as a sexy shrimp and a camel back?
also if i keep chocolate stars in my fuge will it eat any pods or other beneficial things for my tank?
thanks!:)
 
Yes, they are safe with other shrimp, and no I don't believe the starfish will eat your pods. =)

Beautiful pictures, guys. I wish I could keep some of these, I just dont have the heart to feed them . >_>'
 
E.intheC said:
Carl, in my personal experience, I think mini brittles are too quick and hide too much for Harlequins. I'm sure there are others who can chime in more.

IMO, mini brittle stars are very helpful and don't hurt anything though, so I'm not sure why you want to get rid of them? Asterinas will be consumed by Harlequins though.
Click to expand...

good luck with thread of the month.

i have read a fair amount about them without getting my question answered. i have a plague of mini brittle stars in my system. their little arms wave out of every crevis in the tank.

these are the ones i want a smaller population of.
IMG_5147.jpg


Carl
 
Reefski's said:
i have read a fair amount about them without getting my question answered. i have a plague of mini brittle stars in my system. their little arms wave out of every crevis in the tank. Carl
Click to expand...

what do u need to know?!?!?! almost anything u could ask about harlequins has been posted on here. i could answer ur questions or at least give it a good try.
 
gkaquatic said:
what do u need to know?!?!?! almost anything u could ask about harlequins has been posted on here. i could answer ur questions or at least give it a good try.
Click to expand...

+1. I doubt the mini's will be bothered by Harlequin shrimp. Side note... I think mini brittles are awesome. If you were close to me, I'd gladly take them off your hands.

I have a few in my tank (that I can see) and the Harleys leave them alone.

There's also a rather large red serpent star that has been in my system for over a year who hasn't been touched by my harley's... Even if they pay attention to him he gets away pretty quickly.
 
Even if harlequins ate serpent/brittle stars, using them to do so doesn't really address the root of the issue. The brittle stars are multiplying probably because there is plenty of what they eat, detritus. Once they consume the excess detritus buildup their population should crash and stabilize at levels that can survive on the average rate of detritus production in your tank. Simply removing all the brittle stars would open up the niche for other detritus feeders to bloom such as bristleworms.
 
Does anyone know how long these shrimp are supposed to live? I think I've lost my female after three years. I havn't seen her in about a week and the male has been wandering the tank more.
 
JokerGirl said:
Does anyone know how long these :bounce2:shrimp are supposed to live? I think I've lost my female after three years. I havn't seen her in about a week and the male has been wandering the tank more.
Click to expand...

They live anywhere from 3 to 4 years" similar too cleanershrimp. My female was about 3 1/2 when she died. She stopped eating and hid in a rock and a few days later she was gone.
 
Just read this entire thread! Awesome!! I have loved these since the first time that I laid eyes on them! The one question I did not see and did not see anyone address was how long do I need to wait to put them in a newly established tank? I am about three weeks into my cycle with nothing in my tank but live rock and a decaying piece of shrimp! (From a bag bought at Costco) I still have ammonia and trites so I am not close to adding anything yet. Can I add them (a pair of harli's would be ideal) when I start to add my first cuc or do I need to wait for awhile for the tank to mature? I am planning on running a mixed reef and my only have to have's is a pair of mated clowns and a pair of mated harli's! :)
 
Wind said:
do u folks think feeding them frozen star fish does the trick?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delayed response.. this is possible, but it takes dedication, as they typically don't accept frozen stars off the bat. You have to wean them on to frozen.
 
You can probably add em as soon as your levels are good to go. They only eat starfish anyway, so as long as you can provide stars for them to eat, you're fine.

My harlies don't take frozen star legs. Fresh cut or they won't even bother. Which isn't much of an issue since I just buy a bunch of stars and throw them into the sump. I cut a leg whenever they need one. My pair gets two legs per feeding (around once a week?). One leg for each shrimp. Each leg is approx. 3/4 of an inch to an inch tops.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

vinstr
Anyone need a Harlequin shrimp?
Replies
1
Views
78
vinstr
vinstr
A
Dr. Tim's?
Replies
6
Views
547
brandon429
brandon429
S
Palytoxin question.
Replies
3
Views
681
jrill
J
M
Return to Reefing
2 3
Replies
40
Views
7K
kelly_12
K
DPauley
Bonnethead Shark Collection and Care in Home Aquaria
Replies
3
Views
706
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Back
Top