Harlequin Shrimp

[weaponsofmassdesign]

I just became interested in the Harlequin Shrimp. I read their main diet is starfish. Do they eat other stuff? Does anybody here keep them with starfish and they do they bother them? Also, feel free to add your shrimp pics here as I would love to see them!

 

[UltimateReefer115]

No, they only eat starfish.

 

[SmokeyCFH]

I just got one and it has wiped out my astrea stars which is why I got it, but I had to move all my starfish to my sump. So far I've fed it one chocolate chip starfish leg two days ago and it's still munching on it.

 

[KSzegi]

You can keep them with brittle stars - but I doubt any other type!

 

[weaponsofmassdesign]

Thanks guys! They're pretty awesome but I plan on keeping a couple nice stars so I'll have to pass on these shrimp.

 

[iretthepirate]

love them they r so cute, but yeah dont want to get them since their diet is limited to star fish

 

[Reefer_alskk]

Mated Pair - Harlequinzies

Hey there,

I've been feeding mine Chocolate Chip Starfishes and I have kept them in my sump inside a media basket (the bottom area, my scallops sit in the mid section, however, i will be moving them to the bottom on my 2nd tray). I usually cut off an arm from the star fish and let it regenerate, while that occurs, i cut another chocolate chip that i have in there. I keep both so I give more time for the starfish to focus it's energy on recovering that arm... it seems to be working, however, my harleys seems to finish the arms within three days and I usually equipped them with one all the time (seems like a neccessity for them).

Hands down, they are great! A bit shy at first, but they will get used to who the boss is (you are the one that feeds and they see it). Dont' try to move them where you want because they will explore the tank and settle in one area, depending on the flow, they will move to very low flow area. Mine stay within crevis that i have created within the rocks. The photo you see is their area, i have placed an existing tall skinny rock where you see the conch, they are happily residing under it at the moment, however, i would like them in my cave!!

Anyways, patience is key, don't disturb them, they are fiesty and will put up a fight. I run my tank at 79.6-81.3 degrees F. With moderate/ low flow due to a tray that I run my 750 at... but you can run high flow, np, i'm working this setup until i get a mp10w.

Here's a pic of the harleys with my conch... hahaha (conch got pushed off the ledge =/)


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Mated pair - Male is much smaller and usually stays bluish, some red. Female stays reddish/blue and is plumped =)
btw: make sure you get surgical steel high grade cutters for the starfish, no rust equal no hassle. Spend the money to get good stuff that will last.


Cheers!!!

 

[returnofsid]

They will eat all "Tube Footed" Starfish. A lot of reports also say they'll eat all "Tube Footed" Urchins and Sea Slugs as well. They will not eat Brittle Starfish as they are not "Tube Footed."

 

[Reefer_alskk]

Remember, Harlequinzies cannot eat if they need to chase, ie. serpent stars because of their mobility (fast moving meal, they cannot hold it down). Harlq are slow paced movers.

 

[returnofsid]

Remember, Harlequinzies cannot eat if they need to chase, ie. serpent stars because of their mobility (fast moving meal, they cannot hold it down). Harlq are slow paced movers.

Not at all true. They are "Obligate Feeders" meaning they only have one source of food, "Tube Footed" Starfish, possibly Tube Footed Urchins and Sea Slugs. It has absolutely nothing to do with their "mobility." They can actually move quite fast when needed, as anyone who's ever tried to catch them from their tanks can attest.

 

[Reefer_alskk]

I think you misunderstood. I was just referring to echinoderms such as serpent stars that moves with great haste at night. Harlq will not spend time chasing it, then try and wrestle with it. Too much time and energy will be wasted, they will starve before they do anything to that serpent star. I mean, there could be a chance, but highly doubtful (its a given in nanos...), a good healthy sized serpent star will juke them out, im not talking about babies or small ones. I'm not trying to argue with you either, but mobility has a lot to do with predators and prey, the balance is there.

Honestly, if harlqs weren't fed and a healthy med sized serpent star was thrown in, I bet the harleys will die first before the serpent. End of story, they can't eat if they can't catch their meal.