Harlequin Shrimp and other unadvisable but tempting creatures...

[ophelia]

Assuming my recent problems with fish disease cease and desist, I may at some point have recovered enough to get a new animal or two...am seriously tempted by Harlequin Shrimp even though I understand they feed on starfish...Does anyone have experience keeping them? How often would I have to buy a starfish to sacrafice?

 

[richard rendos]

I had one for years. Just fed it a small chocolate chip star about once a month. Other than that, there's nothing to it.

 

[nss11110]

i for one wouldnt own one becauce i like stars. but a monthly feeding with the cheapest star should be ok

 

[uncle fester]

As attractive as the Harlequin Shrimp are, you'd think someone would start farming the "Crown of Thorns" starfish as a food source for 'em. Also, there is an article on <a href="http://www.garf.org" target="_blank">www.garf.org</a> regarding acropora eating starfish and using harlequin shrimp to eradicate them in a reef tank. The starfish referenced in this article are quite common in reef tanks. Check it out! When I changed from 30 gal to 92 gal tank, I inspected all my live rock and removed at least 20 of them! I'm keeping an eye out for more.......