Harlequin Shrimp Feeding?

[JayChen]

So I just got my harlequin shrimp and a cc starfish reading to feed. I have done my research on them and planning to feed the little guy a whole cc starfish. However, on the first day I put in the shrimp and the starfish, the shrimp starts to hide in a cave and the cc climbs on the glass, I then took the cc to my refugium because I am worried that it might roam around and hurt my corals before my shrimp finds it. How exactly will the shrimp eat the starfish? I know that the shrimp will flip the starfish around, does that mean the starfish won't be able to move at all? Should I be worried for the starfish to roam around even when the shrimp finds it and start to eats it? I mean, the shrimp is not going to eat the starfish 24/7.

 

[JayChen]

Take a look at this little guy, how beautiful! I didn't realize he's missing a claw until I was doing the acclimation but I decided to keep him because it will grow back eventually.

 

[JayChen]

Anyone???

 

[Brian_68]

My cc starfish does roam and he does not just lie on his back, sometimes with the shrimp riding on his back. I have a separate tank so the CC starfish does not harm the corals.

 

[JayChen]

My cc starfish does roam and he does not just lie on his back, sometimes with the shrimp riding on his back. I have a separate tank so the CC starfish does not harm the corals.

Huhh, I guess I need to chop down the starfish

 

[Webslinger]

He will go right after it. He's an expensive shrimp to keep. The feeding bill is crazy.

 

[Onajoyride]

I have always fed whole starfish. Once the Harlequin finds the cc it irritates all the sucker feet and it cant move. Then mine drags it back to it lair and eats it. I can say that I wait a few days for the Harlequin to roam the tank looking for food before I introduce the cc.

 

[Webslinger]

Your shrimp might be just acclimating.

 

[Double monti 61]

Why do they still sell them? PS love my stars!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Allow shrimp to acclimate. Took mine 4 days before he went to work. I wont give him a choc chip until I see all asterina gone otherwise it will focus on CC and let the asterina run loose (the reason I bought him)

 

[Webslinger]

cleaned my tank out, then I returned him. I had 1000's. Took him about 6 weeks

 

[JayChen]

I

Allow shrimp to acclimate. Took mine 4 days before he went to work. I wont give him a choc chip until I see all asterina gone otherwise it will focus on CC and let the asterina run loose (the reason I bought him)

I don't have any asterina, I got the shrimp because it's beautiful and the hunting behavior haha

 

[JayChen]

Why do they still sell them? PS love my stars!

I don't know, the store allowed me to have a refund but I think I'm keeping it.

 

[JayChen]

He will go right after it. He's an expensive shrimp to keep. The feeding bill is crazy.

I think I should be okay, a whole CC star should last about 2 to 3 weeks and it costs me $7 from a LFS

 

[JayChen]

G

I have always fed whole starfish. Once the Harlequin finds the cc it irritates all the sucker feet and it cant move. Then mine drags it back to it lair and eats it. I can say that I wait a few days for the Harlequin to roam the tank looking for food before I introduce the cc.

Good to hear that

 

[Webslinger]

I think I should be okay, a whole CC star should last about 2 to 3 weeks and it costs me $7 from a LFS

I've never had a cc star last more than a day or 2. If cc stars weren't so hard to find i'd still have him.

 

[sp1187]

I have locals that can usually keep me in asterinas. if not I buy it some chocolate.
Harlie road this one all the way up to the top of my 150 X Tall.

 

[Greg P]

I have locals that can usually keep me in asterinas.

Have you had long-term success feeding your Harlequins Asterina stars?

 

[sp1187]

Have you had long-term success feeding your Harlequins Asterina stars?

I've had it for over a year. I'll get 100+ asterinas from someone each month.

 

[Greg P]

I've had it for over a year. I'll get 100+ asterinas from someone each month.

Good to hear as others have stated they can't be kept without regular large starfish feedings, such as Asterinas are only a 'snack', or not enough nutrition.