Harlequin Help

23fabe23 · Jul 14, 2014

I have a 90 gal reef tank set up and established. I am looking to add a pair of Harlequin shrimp becuase I think they are great to look at and watch. However, I am not interested in creating a problem in a tank that I am very satisfied with. I understand they eat starfish and pieces of starfish but I am worried about the nitrates building up from uneaten parts and pieces of star fish. Should I be concerned about this or not?

Eric

Reef head · Jul 15, 2014

No. Nitrates are not an issue.

KSzegi · Jul 15, 2014

I always fed mine just a leg at a time so there wasn't any chance of a dying starfish polluting the water. Never had a problem with my pair - was also in a 90.

Amphibious · Jul 15, 2014

Harlequin Shrimp are really cool critters. Iâ€™ve had a pair for a year or more. You are right in that they prey on starfish only. To be more specific they only eat the tube feet of starfish leaving the rest to rot. Nitrate build up could be a problem if you donâ€™t retrieve the rotting body pieces of the starfish. You do have a good sized system and Nitrates should not build up simply because of the starfish, BUT Nitrates come from many sources and you must be â€œon topâ€ of the Nitrates in your particular system because you know the starfish body parts will be adding to any other source of Nitrates. Retrieving the rotting parts will help.

High Nitrates are a source of algae growth as well as the death of delicate critters such as your Harlequin shrimp.

Dick

23fabe23 · Jul 15, 2014

Thanks for the help guys....still considering it.

gerbsteru2 · Jul 15, 2014

Nuisance Starfish

I have a pair in my 135 reef to take care or the NuisanceStarfish that are invading my tank. They are a really cool pair and like to beout all of the time. They are really good at eating the tiny starfish that haveinvaded my tank. In the 3 months that I have had them the starfish populationhas been dramatically reduced.

ayhanyildiz · Jul 15, 2014

they are too small to enjoy

they are too small to enjoy. they look beautiful but not even 2 inch. i had in 90 gallon too but saw once a week or so.

jammerdave · Jul 15, 2014

I LOVE my Harley- i have a 150 and had a problem with small starfish, not anymore. feed mine 1 chocolate chip starfish every 2-3 weeks- nitrates not an issue. I do pick out the dead guy if I find him, but if not, no worries

HumanMachine · Jul 16, 2014

I had a couple in a 40 for a while before I had a random heat wave kill off quite a bit of my stock.

I never saw them until they were hungry, and then I only saw them for a little while they ate and then they disappeared. The cost inherent is kind of prohibitive (I got a pair for 70) and there are a few cases of a female killing a smaller male if she gets bored with him to "free herself up" I had a female go through two males in a tank of non hostile inhabitants. She was alone for the longest time until I was able to find a pretty decently sized male she was happy with.

Be careful on introduction because they can, and do, snap at each other if you drop the mate right on top of them. I usually start them on opposite sides of the tank and let nature work.