Harlequin Shrimp Question

[maus42]

Are harlequin shrimp pretty much guranteed to eat asterina starfish, or is a hit and miss kind of thing? They're starting to eat my corraline faster than it can grow back, and would like to get the population under control.

[SDFISHMAN]

I'm pretty sure the harlequin shrimp will do the trick.. I thought those stars where pretty cool until 5 months later and no coraline.. Give it a try he should work put for you plus its an cool looking shrimp..

[obarrera]

I think they will eat any star that has tube feet.

[kjsreef]

I got one about a month ago....and I am now asterina free! I watched him seek out and destroy those little pests.

Give it a try!

[phishphood]

kjs....what's he gonna eat now?

[lucubrator]

A few people buy chocolate chip stars and cut off an arm a month or something like that.

[colindoug3]

obar mentioned tube feet... is that stars alone? or does that include urchins. just curious.

[lucubrator]

Good question. From a random website: The Harlequin Shrimp is considered to be reef safe. However, in reefs that include Sea Stars or Urchins, the Harlequin Shrimp should not be present, since it will prey on these animals

[kjsreef]

I feed mine chocolates now. I cut one arm off about every 2 weeks. Suprisingly, the stars do quite fine without an arm or two.

[maus42]

Piked up one of the blue ones today.. talk about an awesome shrimp that went rightfor my starfish.

[maus42]

Where did you get him and for how much?

I got him at OG... as to how much I don't even remember, I spent a good amount of cash there last night. Price wasn't an issue... getting those damn starfish out is. I do remember that they're $60/pair at AW, but I don't need two and they won't break up a pair.