Harlequin Shrimp????

lank

Member
Well we have a 165 gallon tank and we have 2 start fish 1 Brittal star and 1 Black and White striped star and a bunch of babys i was wondering if we could get a Harlequin Shrimp i know that they eat star fish tubs but our star fish are pretty big ones body is about a quarter size and the other is a little smaller that a half dallor so can you help me at all??????
 

speg

Active Member
The only way I would recommend buying one of these shrimp is if people are willing to set up a seperate tank to let their starfish heal up. Get two chocolate chip stars and place one in your tank with the shrimp and one in the 'heal tank' and just keep swapping them out.
 

mbrands

Member
Originally Posted by Speg
set up a seperate tank to let their starfish heal up.
Could you possibly imagine a more horrible life? Being served as food, only to be partially eaten, allowed to "heal up", then served as food . . . over and over again until you ultimately die.
The harlequin shrimp is beautiful, but don't put a starfish through that torture.
 

speg

Active Member
Well, its either that or let him keep tossing starfish in until they die.
My way is the best solution. The starfish regenerate pretty fast.
 

mbrands

Member
Originally Posted by Speg
The starfish regenerate pretty fast.
Humans can heal from broken bones too, but that doesn't mean I'm looking to have it happen to me. Let's just say this is a matter of personal opinion and mine is that I couldn't put 2 creatures through a life of endless suffering. I would opt, as I have, to not keep a harlequin shrimp.
Out of curiosity, do you dislike the use of damsels for cycling a new tank? If so, how do you see that as different?
 

speg

Active Member
I am not against the use of damsels to cycle like others.
Ever heard of feeder fish?
 

mbrands

Member
Originally Posted by Speg
Ever heard of feeder fish?
Actually, I have. They are the fish that are consumed completely by other fish. They aren't partially eaten, put into a quarantine so that they can heal, then partially eaten again in a never-ending cycle . . . correct?
Let's just agree to disagree. Deal?
 

speg

Active Member
The thing is this.. regardless of what your personal opinions are on things, people will want to buy these shrimp. It is the shrimps fault for looking so attractive :p lol j/k. Seriously though, people know that moorish idols have horrible long term survival rates.. yet people buy them. People know that goniporas end up dying, yet people buy them. You see what im getting at? People want these things and despite your opinions on if they should have them or not, they need YOU to give them advice on how to keep them successfully.
You may tell someone not to get a anemone until their tank is established and they learn a lot about them.. that someone will most likely get one anyways. Now you could ether just hate that person for getting one and ignore any of their questions, or you could help them try their best to keep that anemone.
All im saying is that this person asked for help, and I provided it as best as possible.
Wish I didnt get envolved in this discussion :p
 

mbrands

Member
Originally Posted by Speg
I provided it as best as possible.
I would agree with that. I don't "hate" those who use starfish in that way, but rather try to get them to think about it before going forward.
 

ophiura

Active Member
This is a tough call, for sure...
IMO, the most ecologically responsible thing to do is to use Asterina stars.
The second is to use chocolate chip stars and indeed have them regenerate. Echinoderms are well suited for this - almost designed to have parts eaten and regrow them. It is a tough call because there are so many that die alreay in this hobby. I hate to see more used just for short term feeding of these animals. If a few can "suffer" (If they suffer) then I would rather a few than star after star after star. Maybe having 3 stars, versus a new one every month.
Obviously I don't much care for people keeping animals that require such a specialized diet.
The last star I would ever recommend using is a Linckia star due to their poor survival rate as it is.
 
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