Harlequin Shrimp

[biocube14]

I think these are awesome, but I read that you have to feed them starfish? What do you guys feed yours?

Thanks!

 

[taichimaster]

Chocolate chip starfish. They are not reef safe so becareful putting them in. I usually cut them up and feed a leg at a time. Leave the rest in the sump in a breeder's cup so it won't crawl everywhere in the sump

 

[Myteemouse]

I'm feeding mine the rest of a sand sifting star till it's gone then I'll go to chocolate chip
And yes I keep the star in the sump!

 

[biocube14]

How often/how many starfish do you feed each one?

 

[Myteemouse]

for now the one in my 29 has been making fast work of all the little blue/white pest star fish.
As for the one in my 125 I feed it like one a week with about 1" of star fish leg.
I don't know if that's enough??
Good question.
Someone else with more experience should chime in.

 

[biocube14]

Oh and btw taichimaster, thanks for the clam, its looking good!

 

[balogh03]

Once mine became fully grown (after about a year) he would eat a full choclate in about 3 weeks. I am not sure if feeding them more or less at a sitting is better.

*Also, I would like to know their longevity becuase mine only lived for about 3yrs.

Thanks, and good luck

-augustus

 

[returnofsid]

Hopefully HereFishy will chime in. I don't know if he still has them, but he had an amazingly beautiful pair at one time. I think he's got quite a bit of experience with them. I've often wondered about getting a pair, but worried about knowing if I was feeding it enough or not.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

The bigger the shrimp, the more they eat. The are an excellent cure for tanks with too many astarina stars. Feed them a CChip star once every few weeks. Can buy 4 stars, and revolve them in your sump re-growing previously consumed legs. You know they are hungry when the come out in the open waving their antennae at you

 

[Chichas01]

Do they eat your brittle stars as well?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Do they eat your brittle stars as well?

Not brittle nor serpent, they only eat animals with tube feet.
That includes Sea Cucumbers and Sea Apples.

 

[taichimaster]

I am glad you acclimated it well. glad you are enjoying the clam. It was a pleasure meeting you and your dad. good luck and have fun in reefing.

Oh and btw taichimaster, thanks for the clam, its looking good!

 

[biocube14]

Can buy 4 stars, and revolve them in your sump re-growing previously consumed legs.

oooohhh....very clever...haha

 

[Michael7979]

We feed our HS pair a CCstar about every three to four weeks.
And yeah they look at ya when they get hungry!!

 

[returnofsid]

Mike or Mike....too many mikes on this thread, Michael7979, Herefishy and me....

Anyway, do you do anything in particular to keep the CC Starfish alive, in your sump? Feed it anything?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

They eat mostly algae

 

[returnofsid]

Ahhh so an added benefit of the CC starfish eating some of the garbage algaes that grow in our fuges!! hmmmm....

I've been wanting a pair of Harlequinns since seeing your pair Mike. I'm getting closer to being convinced....lol.