dead fish cause of harlequin schrimps eating habits

[weeder]

i have a harlequin schrimp in a 12 nano. i also had a watchmen goby that has died. the schrimp started eating a cc star a few days ago, but is taking a while to finish it. my question is, will the dead star start to produce ammonia before the schrimp can eat it completely. could this be why the fish died. efverything was fine as far as water tests a couple days ago.

 

[weeder]

anyone:notsure:

 

[weeder]

the harlequin is in a different tank now. the nitrates are at about 30ppm. and there is some ammonia

 

[weeder]

sorry, computer shut down on me.
as i was saying the nitrates are at 30ppm and there is some ammonia in the tank that had the harlequin in it. i am moving it into a different tank after reading your post.
how does one go about cutting off the leg of a star. is it as easy as i would think or is there something special to it.

 

[mudplayerx]

I wouldn't leave any dead material in the tank that isn't consumed within 5 minutes.

 

[pyro]

Won't the cc star regrow it's first arm by the time you use the last one?

 

[weeder]

well we would not have got one if we knew this is how you feed them. the guy at the lfs said to put a cc star in once a month. they even gave me a card to let them know i have a harlequin shrimp and they sell me the star for $5 instead of $10.
i guess i should up date my tanks on my profile. i put the shrimp in a 10g i have in the kitchen. it only has a percula and a cc star that was going to be food for the shrimp. i moved the shrimp from the 12g because the nitrates were so high and i didn't have the water ready for a change(plus it was bedtime for my step-son whose room the tank is in).
since i plan on putting coral in the 10g the cc star can't stay in there. i do have a whisper hang on the back on my 55g, would it survive in there while it is being eaten one leg at a time. or do the legs grow back in time for the next feeding.
i may just take the thing back. i thought is was cool that it ate star fish but not if i have to cut the legs off of them.

 

[schneidts]

First,
Harlequin shrimp are nothing but evil little...well, there evil. Take it back. As far as cutting the legs off a starfish to feed it...that's just awful, and doesn't really make any sense. IME, Harlequin shrimp will eat anything and everything whether you want them to or not.

 

[weeder]

thanks for the replies.
the only problem with taking it back is it is my step-sons, and i don't know if he'll go for that.

 

[evilss]

please post a pic of your shrimp.

 

[schneidts]

Originally posted by schneidts
[B
IME, Harlequin shrimp will eat anything and everything whether you want them to or not. [/B]
Sorry, I thought that was pretty clear. I'll try harder next time.

 

[schneidts]

As far as your questions go:
No, I'm not a vegan.
I feed my fish mush that I make out of many various things, lots of which consist of frozen seafood that I cut up myself.
I have a mandarin; he's my favorite fish. I have a fuge full of pods and I am glad they get eaten on a regular basis (mandarins primarily eat ostracodes, but that's a different discussion).
I certainly didn't mean to "get on anybodies case". I was just trying to share my experience and give my opinion. I had a harlequin for about 4 months and all he did was eat everything in site. I suspect he killed a few tankmates, even though he was spot fed meaty foods every other day. Finally, I think it's pretty awful to "saw" the leg off of a live starfish, just to feed it to an animal who will eat anything. If someone had an aggressive tank, and sawed a body part off a specific live animal to feed to a fish who will eat anything anyway...well, I'd think that were pretty awful, too. For you to be so confrontational, and personally attacking, over my pretty simple statement is pretty immature. Have a great day.

 

[shoreliner11]

In my limited experience with Harlequin shrimp, their diet is very specific if not only starfish. Not saying it won't munch on something else here and there but there are always exceptions to every rule we have about fish or inverts in the hobby.

 

[ophiura]

However, if I may jump in, it is certainly worth trying to see if they will eat something else. I agree, if it will, I don't see the point of feeding the star. It was always my impression that they were pertty much obligate feeders on seastars...but why the hassle, expense, etc if they do eat other stuff? So I would try to see if they do. I think it is a valid point.

 

[weeder]

schneidts
i did not take any offense nor did i think you were jumping my case with your opinions. that is why i asked the question in the first place to get opinions, what i do with them is up to me.
i had no problem with the shrimp eating a whole star, i actually thought it would be neat to watch.(the survival of the fittest and all) but i don't think i want to have to cut off a leg to feed it. i will try other foods if anyone has any suggestions. my step-son said he would cut the leg off but my wife doesn't like the idea of cutting the legs off. what to do
evilss
i am unable to post pics because i don't know how at the moment. we do have a digital camera, i just need my wife to show me how to go from the camera to the computer to this post. i will keep you in mind when i learn how.