Adding another Harlequin Shrimp

1979fishgeek · Apr 27, 2018

I have a Harlequin Shrimp that been in the tank months, it’s constantly hunting the Asterina but in a 6x2x2 reef on a 1,200l system the Asterina population is still increasing to the point they are plague proportions. Most are just annoying and eat coralline algae but I’ve got a load that have eaten over 80% of my zoa.

I’d like to add another Harlequin (or two or three or four!!!) but wondered if there will be territory issues or compatibility issues. Any thoughts? Can I just add more till the Asterina are not breeding faster than they can be eaten and get to a point where the breeding Asterina population is controlled but not eliminated by Harlequin.

1979fishgeek · Apr 27, 2018

Little dude!

1979fishgeek · Apr 27, 2018

Hunting in the Purple Stylo and sps

reef lover · Apr 27, 2018

Idk about multiple pairs but you could definitely have a pair. Here' an easy way to sex them.

1979fishgeek · Apr 28, 2018

Wow, that’s brilliant. I will double check the ‘plumbing’ on mine, think it’s a male from your photos, so will try to get a lady. Really appreciate the help. Thanks

reef lover · Apr 28, 2018

Salty_Dreamer · Dec 10, 2022

1979fishgeek said:
I have a Harlequin Shrimp that been in the tank months, it’s constantly hunting the Asterina but in a 6x2x2 reef on a 1,200l system the Asterina population is still increasing to the point they are plague proportions. Most are just annoying and eat coralline algae but I’ve got a load that have eaten over 80% of my zoa.

I’d like to add another Harlequin (or two or three or four!!!) but wondered if there will be territory issues or compatibility issues. Any thoughts? Can I just add more till the Asterina are not breeding faster than they can be eaten and get to a point where the breeding Asterina population is controlled but not eliminated by Harlequin.

Hello, I know this post was years ago, but did you end up adding another? If so, what was the experience?

thatmanMIKEson · Dec 10, 2022

1979fishgeek said:
Wow, that’s brilliant. I will double check the ‘plumbing’ on mine, think it’s a male from your photos, so will try to get a lady. Really appreciate the help. Thanks

I wish you weren't in the UK, and in 2018 ....I have a female I'm about to need to rehome

Drewbacca · Dec 10, 2022

I just imagined 1979fishgeek, we'll call him 'Harley' ... 30 min ago after 4 years later from his last post, having not been able to aquire a second harlequin, with a long unkept crumbfilled beard, half asleep half depressed, leaned back in a soft recliner that he had eventually pulled over right beside his white asterina coated tank as his arm hangs over the one side with long tweezers still in hand drooped halfway into a stinking bucket of dead & dying lil white starfish that he's been manually removing to try and help his same one & only harlequin who is now the size of a grilling prawn barely dragging himself around as his legs are still the same size and his claws can just barely still reach around to his mouth to eat... as Harleys outdated phone (since he has not left the house) sitting on his chest ... sounds off from the Only notification alert he had left on...
...THIS Thread..
He lifts his head and other arm..
..looks at his phone..
.. face turns from pale to red
..eyes grow bigger..
until his head flops back , dropping the tweezers, looking up (at god / the tv he mounted on the ceiling / his wife who still lives on the 1st & 2nd floors above) ...
And Screamss..
"UuAAAHH!! NOWW YOU TELLL ME!?!"

Salty_Dreamer · Dec 10, 2022

Drewbacca said:
I just imagined 1979fishgeek, we'll call him 'Harley' ... 30 min ago after 4 years later from his last post, having not been able to aquire a second harlequin, with a long unkept crumbfilled beard, half asleep half depressed, leaned back in a soft recliner that he had eventually pulled over right beside his white asterina coated tank as his arm hangs over the one side with long tweezers still in hand drooped halfway into a stinking bucket of dead & dying lil white starfish that he's been manually removing to try and help his same one & only harlequin who is now the size of a grilling prawn barely dragging himself around as his legs are still the same size and his claws can just barely still reach around to his mouth to eat... as Harleys outdated phone (since he has not left the house) sitting on his chest ... sounds off from the Only notification alert he had left on...
...THIS Thread..
He lifts his head and other arm..
..looks at his phone..
.. face turns from pale to red
..eyes grow bigger..
until his head flops back , dropping the tweezers, looking up (at god / the tv he mounted on the ceiling / his wife who still lives on the 1st & 2nd floors above) ...
And Screamss..
"UuAAAHH!! NOWW YOU TELLL ME!?!"