Need a little info on Harlequin shrimp

Reef Junkie · 05-31-2001, 04:58 PM

I just picked up one of these buggers from my aquarium shop. Did a little reading on them and says that they only accept live food. Does anyone have any experience with them? If so what do you feed them? What are there preferences? Thanks for the help.

Elmo18 · 05-31-2001, 05:19 PM

ReefJunkie WELCOME to Reefland!!! Best place on the net for corals/saltwater fish info!!

Harlequin shrimp ONLY and ONLY eat starfish. They will not eat any other food. This is their natural food in the wild. I don't find this too great and it is a bit cruel, but I've heard someone buy a whole bunch of chocolate chip starfish, which is pretty cheap and freezing them. When feeding them, you just break off part of the legs and drop it in the water.

I believe it is cruel to freeze a live animal in the freezer....and let it slowly die. However, I don't know of anyother way that you can actually keep this shrimp alive. Too bad they are not scavengers like other shrimp that will take in flakes, and brine. The harlequin will basically eat any type of starfish, be it Linkia, Fromia, etc.

Good luck with this guy and keep us updated.

Regards,
Ilham [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

fishguy_8 · 05-31-2001, 05:31 PM

i'm w/ ilham its not the nicest way to care for this beauty but its the only way really unless you start a culture of starfish which i doubt anyone would actually do but it sure would be neat to see [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] harlies are probibly the most beautiful shrimp out there and i'd venture to say probibly the coolest invert i know of....i like it better than octopi's its that fascinating. an old friend of mine had a pair of harlies and this is how he went about doing it. he also did the old pull off a leg of a choc. star and then let it regenerate back and he had a big enough amount of stars that he'd use a different one each time and by the time he plucked about everyone he'd just pluck the first one again.....there really isnt a nice way to care for this guy ......if it were me i'd probibly go w/ the freezer method.....seems to be a little less cruel than plucking them and making them grow back lost parts. good luck and post some pic's they are exquisite(sp?).
Jon

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[This message has been edited by fishguy_8 (edited 05-31-2001).]

jmick01 · 05-31-2001, 05:40 PM

I love to see them when they dance. They are the coolest thing i can think of to add to an aquarium. If only their eating habits were a little cheaper and less hassle involved.

JMM

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Remember Fish are alive when we get them, lets keep it that way!!!

KrakenSeas · 05-31-2001, 06:35 PM

I have a mated pair ,and i freeze chocolate chip starfish,and feed a piece of leg every few days.IMHO I dont belive that freezing starfish is any less cruel then what happens to the starfish when the Harlequin Shrimp gets ahold of him in the wild(you thought freezing was a slow death).

**Ninong** · 05-31-2001, 06:47 PM

Hi Reef Junkie, welcome to Reefland! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

Yep, Harlies eat only echinoderms: starfish and urchins. They are usually employed as a control on the tiny predatory stars that attack SPS. Of course, once your tank is free of starfish or urchins, they die.

Just out of curiosity, did you buy these at an LFS? And did the salesperson say that they only eat live food without explaining exactly what kind of live food? This is common knowledge and everyone selling these shrimp knows exactly what they eat. Of course, it might cut down on sales if they told the truth.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

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"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program."—George W. Bush, St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000

fishguy_8 · 05-31-2001, 06:47 PM

point well taken but im pretty sure we shouldnt start a ethics conversation they tend to get rather heated. could we see some pics of yours we'd all love to take a look im sure [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
Jon

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Elmo18 · 05-31-2001, 06:56 PM

Krakenseas,

Well if you look at it this way, it is the harlequin shrimp that does this. If you freeze them.....then it's you who kill it, not the shrimp. I don't care if the shrimp kills it. IT happens in nature. It's just different if you're the one killing it. Again, many sides to this, and I don't want to get anythign started.

I'm respecting your opinions.

Regards,
Ilham [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Reef Junkie · 05-31-2001, 07:43 PM

Thanks for the help so far guys. Now I don't know what to do. My lfs sold him to me under a different name and claimed he had been eating brine shrimp. Doesn't surprise me. I don't feel like being a starfish executioner but then again I really love the little guy. And I figure it's either the starfish or the shrimp, because if I trade him back in to the lfs they'll just sell it to someone else and they'll put it in the tank and he'll starve to death without them knowing it. So I guess it's six in one half dozen in the other. My other question is will he kill anything else as far as inverts go? Thanks again

**Ninong** · 05-31-2001, 07:54 PM

He will eat any echinoderns you place in the tank, but nothing else.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

------------------
"It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports come from overseas."—George W. Bush, Beaverton, Ore., Sep. 25, 2000

kennerd · 06-01-2001, 10:53 AM

Reefjunkie:

Did all of the research that was mentioned on this thread, and have decided to set up a species tank for a pair of these guys.

A few questions:

Where are you located?
How big is he?
How much did the little guy cost you?

FYI: of all the pricing I've seen, online prices are the best, but after shipping, end up costing the same as buying locally. One LFS wants $35 apiece for half to two-thirds inchers, but there is another shop that has had a mating pair for months @ $75 for the pair.....GOTTA cycle the new tank first.

------------------
I'm into nano-reefing, Amano style freshwater plants, orchids & anything else that's nail-biting, difficult & frustrating to keep!

I'm in Park Ridge,NJ / Chestnut Ridge, NY : top of the Garden State Parkway!

[This message has been edited by kennerd (edited 06-01-2001).]

ranaman · 06-01-2001, 02:32 PM

They aren't too picky about what stars they eat. Some people have used cold water stars to feed them. Been along time since I kept one but I used cheap local florida stars to feed them. Syd Kraul used crown of thorns stars to feed his pairs, no bad vibes about feeding a coral eating star to them. I always fed the stars live. One star would last about a month as the shrimp slowly consumed it. I would worry about frozen star fish polluting the tank, still that brings up the point one might be able to make an artificial diet for them if you can figure out what makes the shrimp realize that something is food. Wanted to buy a pair of hawaiian harlequin shrimp (if you are going through the hassle might as well have the pretty ones) but Coral Reef Fish Hawaii had a sold and paid for sign on the pair they had. When I visited Bill Stockly some bum named Martin Moe had talked him out of the pair he had. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

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"The octopus notices the little cowries."

05-31-2001, 04:58 PM	#1
Reef Junkie Just Moved In Join Date: May 2001 Location: MT Posts: 13	Need a little info on Harlequin shrimp I just picked up one of these buggers from my aquarium shop. Did a little reading on them and says that they only accept live food. Does anyone have any experience with them? If so what do you feed them? What are there preferences? Thanks for the help.

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05-31-2001, 05:19 PM	#2
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	ReefJunkie WELCOME to Reefland!!! Best place on the net for corals/saltwater fish info!! Harlequin shrimp ONLY and ONLY eat starfish. They will not eat any other food. This is their natural food in the wild. I don't find this too great and it is a bit cruel, but I've heard someone buy a whole bunch of chocolate chip starfish, which is pretty cheap and freezing them. When feeding them, you just break off part of the legs and drop it in the water. I believe it is cruel to freeze a live animal in the freezer....and let it slowly die. However, I don't know of anyother way that you can actually keep this shrimp alive. Too bad they are not scavengers like other shrimp that will take in flakes, and brine. The harlequin will basically eat any type of starfish, be it Linkia, Fromia, etc. Good luck with this guy and keep us updated. Regards, Ilham [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

05-31-2001, 05:31 PM	#3
fishguy_8 Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,205	i'm w/ ilham its not the nicest way to care for this beauty but its the only way really unless you start a culture of starfish which i doubt anyone would actually do but it sure would be neat to see [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] harlies are probibly the most beautiful shrimp out there and i'd venture to say probibly the coolest invert i know of....i like it better than octopi's its that fascinating. an old friend of mine had a pair of harlies and this is how he went about doing it. he also did the old pull off a leg of a choc. star and then let it regenerate back and he had a big enough amount of stars that he'd use a different one each time and by the time he plucked about everyone he'd just pluck the first one again.....there really isnt a nice way to care for this guy ......if it were me i'd probibly go w/ the freezer method.....seems to be a little less cruel than plucking them and making them grow back lost parts. good luck and post some pic's they are exquisite(sp?). Jon ------------------ [This message has been edited by fishguy_8 (edited 05-31-2001).]

05-31-2001, 05:40 PM	#4
jmick01 Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Arlington, TX, Posts: 491	I love to see them when they dance. They are the coolest thing i can think of to add to an aquarium. If only their eating habits were a little cheaper and less hassle involved. JMM ------------------ Remember Fish are alive when we get them, lets keep it that way!!!

05-31-2001, 06:35 PM	#5
KrakenSeas Tenant Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Stockton, CA, USA Posts: 56	I have a mated pair ,and i freeze chocolate chip starfish,and feed a piece of leg every few days.IMHO I dont belive that freezing starfish is any less cruel then what happens to the starfish when the Harlequin Shrimp gets ahold of him in the wild(you thought freezing was a slow death).

05-31-2001, 06:47 PM	#6
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,331	Hi Reef Junkie, welcome to Reefland! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] Yep, Harlies eat only echinoderms: starfish and urchins. They are usually employed as a control on the tiny predatory stars that attack SPS. Of course, once your tank is free of starfish or urchins, they die. Just out of curiosity, did you buy these at an LFS? And did the salesperson say that they only eat live food without explaining exactly what kind of live food? This is common knowledge and everyone selling these shrimp knows exactly what they eat. Of course, it might cut down on sales if they told the truth. Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] ------------------ "They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program."—George W. Bush, St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000

05-31-2001, 06:56 PM	#8
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	Krakenseas, Well if you look at it this way, it is the harlequin shrimp that does this. If you freeze them.....then it's you who kill it, not the shrimp. I don't care if the shrimp kills it. IT happens in nature. It's just different if you're the one killing it. Again, many sides to this, and I don't want to get anythign started. I'm respecting your opinions. Regards, Ilham [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

05-31-2001, 07:43 PM	#9
Reef Junkie Just Moved In Join Date: May 2001 Location: MT Posts: 13	Thanks for the help so far guys. Now I don't know what to do. My lfs sold him to me under a different name and claimed he had been eating brine shrimp. Doesn't surprise me. I don't feel like being a starfish executioner but then again I really love the little guy. And I figure it's either the starfish or the shrimp, because if I trade him back in to the lfs they'll just sell it to someone else and they'll put it in the tank and he'll starve to death without them knowing it. So I guess it's six in one half dozen in the other. My other question is will he kill anything else as far as inverts go? Thanks again

05-31-2001, 07:54 PM	#10
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,331	He will eat any echinoderns you place in the tank, but nothing else. Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] ------------------ "It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports come from overseas."—George W. Bush, Beaverton, Ore., Sep. 25, 2000

06-01-2001, 10:53 AM	#11
kennerd Tenant Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: southern NY/northern NJ border Posts: 58	Reefjunkie: Did all of the research that was mentioned on this thread, and have decided to set up a species tank for a pair of these guys. A few questions: Where are you located? How big is he? How much did the little guy cost you? FYI: of all the pricing I've seen, online prices are the best, but after shipping, end up costing the same as buying locally. One LFS wants $35 apiece for half to two-thirds inchers, but there is another shop that has had a mating pair for months @ $75 for the pair.....GOTTA cycle the new tank first. ------------------ I'm into nano-reefing, Amano style freshwater plants, orchids & anything else that's nail-biting, difficult & frustrating to keep! I'm in Park Ridge,NJ / Chestnut Ridge, NY : top of the Garden State Parkway! [This message has been edited by kennerd (edited 06-01-2001).]

06-01-2001, 02:32 PM	#12
ranaman Council Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Imperial Polk County, Fl Posts: 432	They aren't too picky about what stars they eat. Some people have used cold water stars to feed them. Been along time since I kept one but I used cheap local florida stars to feed them. Syd Kraul used crown of thorns stars to feed his pairs, no bad vibes about feeding a coral eating star to them. I always fed the stars live. One star would last about a month as the shrimp slowly consumed it. I would worry about frozen star fish polluting the tank, still that brings up the point one might be able to make an artificial diet for them if you can figure out what makes the shrimp realize that something is food. Wanted to buy a pair of hawaiian harlequin shrimp (if you are going through the hassle might as well have the pretty ones) but Coral Reef Fish Hawaii had a sold and paid for sign on the pair they had. When I visited Bill Stockly some bum named Martin Moe had talked him out of the pair he had. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] ------------------ "The octopus notices the little cowries."

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