couple ?'s for harlequin shrimp owners

[iretthepirate]

Been thinking about getting a pair and wondering what the best way to feed is I've heard people giving them whole starfish and others just chopping a arm off at a time to feed and even freezing them and removing a arm for them that way. How long does it take them to go through a chocolate chip starfish? And when they get one do they keep it in their home all the time or do they let it wonder around cause I don't want it eating my coral. I basically just don't want the starfish to die in my tank and mess up my water. Also will they get along with my sexy shrimp I don't see a prob but my husband is worried. Any info will help thanks.

 

[KSzegi]

when I had mine i would keep the starfish in my sump and in a 10 gallon tank i set up for them. I would then cut off an arm as needed to feed. It was about an arm once every 5 days or so. I had sexy shrimp in the same tank with the harlequins with no problems.

 

[iretthepirate]

when I had mine i would keep the starfish in my sump and in a 10 gallon tank i set up for them. I would then cut off an arm as needed to feed. It was about an arm once every 5 days or so. I had sexy shrimp in the same tank with the harlequins with no problems.

Will the arm be alive still? Or will it be decomposing in my tank for those days they are eating it?. i'm a little confused about it lol. Yeah I was thinking about just keeping the stars in a little separate tank incase it dies. Thanks for the info

 

[cee]

Arm will not decompose before they eat it. I waited until mine were out during the day hunting before feeding. Never had problems with fouling feeding frozen arms either.

 

[iretthepirate]

Arm will not decompose before they eat it. I waited until mine were out during the day hunting before feeding. Never had problems with fouling feeding frozen arms either.

Good to know thanks

 

[ink527]

I actually own two females and in search of a male myself. One is close to full adult size and the other just barely an inch...separate tanks Ofcourse....I second what Cee said and I cut an arm off for the younger one. I also have other inverts and she doesn't mind them at all.