Harley Quinn shrimp!

[thatmanMIKEson]

I just picked up this Hymenocera picta, commonly known as the harlequin shrimp. I saw her at my lfs, and thought about how my Asterina starfish population has gotten outta control recently.

I've never had a starfish outbreak before or one of these shrimps so its new to me but I waited until there are allot of stars everywhere, so hopefully I can enjoy her for a while, but when food runs low its already discussed with LFS for a trade back, I cannot buy food to keep this shrimp alive.

 

[vetteguy53081]

You can as I do buy a $12 chocolate chip star which will last a long time for the shrimp

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have one and they eat a ton of starfish. I tried the choc chip one, but it kept eating my corals and I had to get rid of it. Mine comes out at dusk to gather up stars. It is so cool.

Start a small tank or raise the stars in the sump.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

You can as I do buy a $12 chocolate chip star which will last a long time for the shrimp

Maybe, I guess, when it gets to that time I'll decide then. the lfs had one she and another female were munching on too, but I really just need it to put a big dent or totally eradicate the Asterina starfish outbreak. Hopefully it goes as planned and atleast the lfs says they would love to trade it back when its fat and happy.

Thanks for the ideas and information

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I have one and they eat a ton of starfish. I tried the choc chip one, but it kept eating my corals and I had to get rid of it. Mine comes out at dusk to gather up stars. It is so cool.

Start a small tank or raise the stars in the sump.

I can't take on another task for a specific shrimp, this is really just to help get the Asterina starfish outbreak under control.

How long have you had yours?

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have mine in a 210g with thousands of those little devils. Good luck! They are really cool creatures.

 

[DeniseAndy]

This is my second Harley. Well, technically third as my other two were a pair. They were with me a long time, but lost in a tank move. This guy has only been with me a week or two. It is huge though and always out looking for stars. Pulls them off rock and shells.

Edit: I wanted a really good population of stars before getting another.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I have mine in a 210g with thousands of those little devils. Good luck! They are really cool creatures.

Not to, LOL @ thousands, but im sure your not joking and probably close . Does the shrimp work for you? And whats the rate it eats at? I have a few hundred for sure in a 120g.

 

[DeniseAndy]

So, far not much noticed. My glass is covered at night and early morning. So, he has a ways to go. My first pair were done with the tank within a year. I had to supplement.

 

[Baldguy]

Mine cleared my 120g in a couple months. Now I feed one chocolate chip leg every two weeks. I wish there was a vendor that sold frozen sea stars.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Okay, If I have to do this, do you just cut a leg off and put in the tank for the shrimp? I guess I put the whole starfish in which is why I lost corals to it. I cringe at the idea of cutting off a leg. Sorry, I also apologize to worms when I fish (which I do not do except with brother in MN - when kids were little).

Mine cleared my 120g in a couple months. Now I feed one chocolate chip leg every two weeks. I wish there was a vendor that sold frozen sea stars.

 

[Baldguy]

Okay, If I have to do this, do you just cut a leg off and put in the tank for the shrimp? I guess I put the whole starfish in which is why I lost corals to it. I cringe at the idea of cutting off a leg. Sorry, I also apologize to worms when I fish (which I do not do except with brother in MN - when kids were little).

As I understand it a sea stars nervous system isn't like ours and really doesn't register pain. At least I hope so. I cut off a leg with a razor blade and put the rest of the star back in the sump. The stars are surprisingly hard bodied. I use a small hammer to tap the razor to get as clean a cut as possible. When the star is down to two legs I cut the remainder down the middle and freeze the last leg. I drop the leg close to the harlequins cave just to make it easier. He drags the leg around with him for several days. As I said before one leg every two weeks. It is a bit gruesome and not something I look forward to but that shrimp is such a cool critter!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

She is going to town on these starfish I sware they were never on the glass as much, I think they are running away is that possible?

Every time I look in her cave she has one in her grip.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I'm starting to think all this girl does is sit around in her cave and eat starfish, she's already molted once, and always has a starfish, but definitely hiding most of the time in the same area. I haven't seen her go around the tank and explor yet..