I Am having a plague of these little critters. Most have six legs prior to splitting. some have only 5. I NEED some Harlequin Shrimp to keep them at bay. I have a 180 gal tank and a 65 gal refugium reef setup with these stars throughout. I keep the refugium lighted 24/7. Can I, and should I, put multiple pairs of shrimp in the system? Where can I get them without spending an arm and leg?
Tiny Stars before my eyes
- Thread starter rbjone1
- Start date
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I assume you're talking about Asterina Starfish. If you're talking about mini brittle starfish, Harlequin Shrimp won't eat them. The Shrimp will make short work of your Asterina's though, and then you'll have to find starfish to feed them, in order to keep them alive. Herefishy can give you some good information about them. He's got a beautiful pair.
I would like to bring this thread to his attention but I cannot figure out how to forward it to him. I am a novice user as well as a beginner to reef tanking.
I sent him a PM with a link to this thread. I'm sure he'll chime in soon!!
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
Hi Ron, glad you are still at it!
Yes Harlequin starfish will gradually eradicate them from your system. Mine have eaten so many, that I have to BUY chocolate chip stars just to keep them fed. Mine came from fellow reefers, buy saltybell knows where to buy juveniles in bulk for cheap. You can get Barrier Reef to order a large pair for you. They are not that expensive and are my favorite ever tank critters. Really cool to watch, look like martian aliens. I am still hoping a crabber, scuba diver, or jetty walker can get me a frozen puget sound/pacific starfish to feed legs from.
Yes Harlequin starfish will gradually eradicate them from your system. Mine have eaten so many, that I have to BUY chocolate chip stars just to keep them fed. Mine came from fellow reefers, buy saltybell knows where to buy juveniles in bulk for cheap. You can get Barrier Reef to order a large pair for you. They are not that expensive and are my favorite ever tank critters. Really cool to watch, look like martian aliens. I am still hoping a crabber, scuba diver, or jetty walker can get me a frozen puget sound/pacific starfish to feed legs from.
Next time we going crabbing or diving I will send you a message, we run into quite a few sun stars that seem to be everywhere, they can be huge. Do you know they will eat frozen legs or hoping they will? I need to get myself a harlequin shrimp for my asterina stars, do I need a pair or they just more interesting to watch as pairs?
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
I have fed defrosted frozen chocolate chip stars successfully. I think any type tube footed star should work and want to train them.
As to keeping them, most keep one, I find a pair working together to be fascinating
As to keeping them, most keep one, I find a pair working together to be fascinating
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