I use a AC 70 and take out the Foam and carbon inserts. I put in this http://shop.mediabaskets.com/AquaClear-70-Media-Basket-AC70MR.htm
Just add lights and I am good.
Just add lights and I am good.
Let's talk about Harlequin shrimp
- Thread starter E.intheC
- Start date
tao chuan fa
Member
I have had a mated pair for a few years.My female just checked out but had a good run.They ate 1-2 choc.chips a month and a few linkias a year.Great addition.Incredible to watch the specialists go to work!
TWEEKEDTA
New member
View attachment 216755
had my harleys about 1 year now and my pair is still going strong, this is the male bringing the choc. star back for him and his wife. :spin1:
had my harleys about 1 year now and my pair is still going strong, this is the male bringing the choc. star back for him and his wife. :spin1:
rrasco
Active member
Lots of good info here. Subbing so I can find it later.
I've had my harleys for a month or two. I need to check on my asterina population to see if I can find any so I know whether to start feeding CCs. I bought mine as 'a pair' but they split up after being put in the tank so I'm assuming they are not really paired. I actually think they are both males so I'll have to figure that out as well. They just got to the point where I can find them wandering about the tank now. They used to hide all the time.
I've had my harleys for a month or two. I need to check on my asterina population to see if I can find any so I know whether to start feeding CCs. I bought mine as 'a pair' but they split up after being put in the tank so I'm assuming they are not really paired. I actually think they are both males so I'll have to figure that out as well. They just got to the point where I can find them wandering about the tank now. They used to hide all the time.
Has anyone had any luck breeding/harvesting Asterina's in either a sump or separate tank from the Harlequins and feeding them that way? It seems like they'll quickly decimate the population in whatever tank they're living in, but it seems like in the right conditions Asterina's can multiply very quickly. Maybe that wouldn't work as the only food source, but what about Asterina's (1-3/day/Harlequin) supplemented with a chocolate chip starfish every month or two for a pair of Harlequins?
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
A harlequin could eat up to 15 asterinas per day.. I breed asterinas in all my other tanks ONLY for if there is a food shortage and nobody has CC instock around. It would be extremely difficult to feed them like that... One 4in diameter chocolate chip star usually last them 2-3 weeks. When they finish you give them another.
Good to know, thanks!! Do you think a harlequin needs an average of 15 asterina's a day, or will just eat that many if they have easy access to them? What you're saying about breeding asterina's for backup makes total sense, and I don't think it would be too difficult to feed a steady diet of chocolate chip stars, but just trying to learn more.
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
A harlequin would need ALOT of asterinas per day. In a week a 100 would be "safe" as a steady diet. Remember a harlequin only eats the tubefeet of starfish and a asterina is rediculously small in comparison to a chocolate chip.. not only that but the tube feet are extremely small.
So it's like eating a salad but only eating the shredded cheese or tomatos and nothing else.. or maybe a hamburger and only eating the onions for the rest of your life... naturally you're not going to fill and will eat ALOT of them per day rather than the entire portion once. Harlequins on an asterina diet relate to this.
Last time there was a food shortage (about a week nobody got starfish in) I destroyed around 100 of my population and right now I'm having difficultly recovering. I have them breeding in my refugium, and both my mantis shrimp tanks. I can count maybe 20 or less.
So it's like eating a salad but only eating the shredded cheese or tomatos and nothing else.. or maybe a hamburger and only eating the onions for the rest of your life... naturally you're not going to fill and will eat ALOT of them per day rather than the entire portion once. Harlequins on an asterina diet relate to this.
Last time there was a food shortage (about a week nobody got starfish in) I destroyed around 100 of my population and right now I'm having difficultly recovering. I have them breeding in my refugium, and both my mantis shrimp tanks. I can count maybe 20 or less.
pufferpoison
Member
They are beautiful shrimp, especially the blue ones. Someone made the comment on page one that it's just cruel to keep a creature (starfish) just to harvest limbs off of it. I guess we all do stuff like that in one way or another, but I think these guys are probably best left to do their thing in the ocean.
Of course, my Mr. Hyde alter ego wants to get him a matching set of harlequin and cut "them little startfish buggers up with a scalpel at lunchtime". LOL
Of course, my Mr. Hyde alter ego wants to get him a matching set of harlequin and cut "them little startfish buggers up with a scalpel at lunchtime". LOL
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
When I used to feed frozen I used wire cutters for their legs.. and broke them. They're extremely tough and hard to cut.
loves2reef
New member
I have a 30 gal rimless with 3 of these beautiful shrimp in there. I feed them a CC once every two weeks. It takes them a little less then that but after there done they munch on all the asterinas i collect from my local lfs. Theres really no way to grow enough asterinas to keep them feed and thats a poor diet anyway. They have no nutrients in them like the CC do. Good snacks bad diet.
paul87
New member
Just recently acquired one of these beauties several weeks ago. I am thoroughly enjoying owning one of theses. She is still on a diet of asterina stars but as soon as all those are gone I have some chocolate chips on standby in the sump. He actually lets me hand feed her asterinas as well and is not the least bit skittish when my hand is in the tank around her. Thought I's share a few pics of my harley.
I know a lot of people don't like the idea of a thing that keeps its prey alive while eating it, but starfish actually have an EXTREMELY simple nervous system with no brain. They most likely don't actually feel pain. Also, the shrimp would be doing that in the wild anyway.
