Let's talk about Harlequin shrimp
- Thread starter E.intheC
- Start date
. That's the idea. Feel free to post if you have any questions. I have two tanks. One is my reef tank and the other is a mantis shrimp setup. I'm planning on adding some CC starfish to my mantis setup and rotate through the starfish for the harlequin shrimp... The only problem is I'm not sure if my mantis will eat the starfish.. oh well one way to find out!
howze01
New member
I have had a male Harley for a few months now and just added a female about a week ago. They found each other right away and have been together since. I feed a CC or sand sifter leg about every 10 days. Since the new one is here I am going to start feeding one a week. We also have a couple Linkias that we give them a "treat" from once a month or so. Has anyone else noticed howimpossibly hard it is to cut a leg off of a Blue Linkia? Is it just ours? What do you guys pay for your stars? I found someone that I can get good sized CC's from for $6 each. For sand sifters they are $9. The 2 linkias we have were $10 each too.
Here's a pic of the male from a couple months ago having a snack on a sand sifter leg.
Here's a pic of the male from a couple months ago having a snack on a sand sifter leg.
Breakbeats2334
New member
awesome thread def has encourage me to go buy 5 cc's throw in the sump and get a pair of these beautiful shrimps
olemiss reb
Molon Labe
teamwork
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JeffBoyRD
Member
Great thread. Read through it. I have a small tank at work and was considering some shrimp for it. I have a 150 at home with a bunch of asterina stars. I see in the thread, from one post, that you can expect a harlequin to eat 10-15 asterina a week. Anyone confirm/change the number? Do you think it would be possible to bring in 5-10 a week from home and that would be enough, leaving a great population for feeding? Also, does anyone see a size limitation on the tank for the shrimp? Thanks.
BeanMachine
Active member
Judging from how quickly my asterina stars are dissapearing, I would say its much more than 10-15 a week. I had maybe a few hundred and its munched 2/3rds of them in almost a month. I plan to trade or give mine away to another reefer near me when he's threw as I don't plan to do the chocolate star thing.
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JeffBoyRD
Member
Thanks Bean I don't plan on CC feeding either. Just thought the possibility would be nice for a few shrimp specimens in the tank. I guess maybe I should ask this perhaps another way. It appears that they can definitely eat more than the 10-15 a week. I wonder, is it detrimental that they get "limited" to the amount they can eat? Are they somewhat opportunistic like fish? Eat when it's there? Thanks again.
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E.intheC
Active member
I don't have exact numbers myself, but I'd bet it's more than 10-15 asterina's per week..
Are you looking at one harlequin or a pair? How small is a "small" tank at work?
jgraz
New member
Well I just read this whole thread. Im definitly getting a harly. 2 question though. They may have been addressed and I may have missed them. 1st, Will this be ok with my other shrimp, 1 blood and 1 sexy. only other inhabitants are a clown and clown goby? 2nd, what will the CC star need to survive im my sump. Its rather small and only haze some rubble, Cheato, and a pump for my reactor in it. Thanks in advance.
John
John
TWEEKEDTA
New member
im getting my pair in tomorrow, can't wait!:bounce3:.. picked up 2 cc stars today and put them into the fuge. i have a 72 gallon reef with a 30 gal sump how many stars can i keep with out being an issue in the 15 gal of fuge space for them? and how fast roughly do the arms grow back after cutting them off.
TWEEKEDTA
New member
received my matted pair of harlequins yesterday, im very happy now but the shippment was a disaster, the delivery guy decicded to make me his last stop at 4pm even though it says "LIVE FISH" and "RAPID DELIVERY" and the HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE" meant nothing aparently bc the box was beat in and when i got my freezing cold bags of harleys out of the box the males big arm was broken off and floating in the bag with him 
.. aparently when i called they said it may take a while but it should grow back. i hope so bc there an awesome color and doing great now in the tank.. i just hope i can grow back.
.. aparently when i called they said it may take a while but it should grow back. i hope so bc there an awesome color and doing great now in the tank.. i just hope i can grow back.allendavant
New member
I have 2 spare tanks going besides the tank my Harlequins are in. My 135g tank & 5gal nano and I have put astrea stars in both tanks. I can take apx 10-15 stars out of both tanks a week to 10 days without depleating the astrea population.
There is no way I'm ever able to harvest enough astreas too keep my 2 harlequins well fed. I suplement their feeding mostly with chocostars. They love linkia stars but they get to be costly so they mabby get 3 linkias a year compared to 1-2 choco stars a month.
Cheers!
Did you buy those as a pair? I bought a male, then later bought a female. They fought a lot for three months, but finally paired up. Unfortunately they both died within within two days of each other. I think they ate a tainted starfish since everything else in the tank was good. I want to buy more, but I will buy a pair this time.
allendavant
New member
received my matted pair of harlequins yesterday, im very happy now but the shippment was a disaster, the delivery guy decicded to make me his last stop at 4pm even though it says "LIVE FISH" and "RAPID DELIVERY" and the HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE" meant nothing aparently bc the box was beat in and when i got my freezing cold bags of harleys out of the box the males big arm was broken off and floating in the bag with him
Did you buy the pair that was just on Diver's Den?
allendavant
New member
Here was my male right after I got him. His color got a lot better after a few days.
And here are some pictures of the male and female flipping a Chocolate Chip Star over.
Unfortunately they both died within a few days of each other. I miss them
And here are some pictures of the male and female flipping a Chocolate Chip Star over.
Unfortunately they both died within a few days of each other. I miss them
TWEEKEDTA
New member
Yes i did buy them as a pair on live aquaria in the divers den section. i was glad to find the ones i finally wanted. nice mostly blue ones. did you feed your chocolate stars anything? i just have mine in the refuge, planning on taking a leg tomorrow off one for the harley's. sorry to hear about yours. that sux.
