Two questions

[porthosandjazz]

First: Harlequin shrimp... yay or nay?
Second question: my sailfin tang seems to be breathing from only one side... what is that all about?

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by porthosandjazz
First: Harlequin shrimp... yay or nay?
Second question: my sailfin tang seems to be breathing from only one side... what is that all about?
Im pretty sure Harelquins only eat STARFISH...Saifin no clue..

 

[lil' tanker]

Originally Posted by porthosandjazz
First: Harlequin shrimp... yay or nay?
Second question: my sailfin tang seems to be breathing from only one side... what is that all about?
Well ya not those shrimp and I believe that your sailfin is about to die of a couple possible things.
1. It might have some kind of internal shutdown
2. The gill on one side is somehow "dead"
I don't know though

 

[dogstar]

Harlequin shrimp, up to you, they do feed exclusivly on seastars. Ppl do keep them so research more and see if its something you want to do.
Tang useing one gill.....need more details like how often or long does this accure, is there other things seem wrong...if no, then nothing wrong.
My Tangs often use only one side or the other at times. If they are relaxed then they dont need so much oxygen at once.....
On Fenners web site, he was asked a very simular question about a Dussumieri Tang. His answer "" Maybe nothing. Sometimes fishes do just seem to use one side/gills. Bob Fenner ""

 

[porthosandjazz]

Originally Posted by MiaHeatLvr
Im pretty sure Harelquins only eat STARFISH...Saifin no clue..
Yes, they do. And I have a chocolate chip starfish, that I read that harlequin shrimp love. I was thinking about selling him back to the LFS anyway because I want to start a ricordea collection. But will the harlequin be mean to my other shrimp? (2 fireshrimp and 2 cleaner shrimp). Will he be mean to my fish? Is he worth the friggin $30 price tag? My daughter saw one at the LFS the other day and is BEGGING me to get one.

 

[porthosandjazz]

Originally Posted by lil' tanker
Well ya not those shrimp and I believe that your sailfin is about to die of a couple possible things.
1. It might have some kind of internal shutdown
2. The gill on one side is somehow "dead"
I don't know though

On the sailfin, I don't see anything else physically wrong with him... If he dies, I will be so sad. He's a GORGEOUS, large desjardni sailfin. He's so cute when he tears at the sea weed like a puppy tears at a toy he wants to rip apart... sigh..

 

[porthosandjazz]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
Harlequin shrimp, up to you, they do feed exclusivly on seastars. Ppl do keep them so research more and see if its something you want to do.
Tang useing one gill.....need more details like how often or long does this accure, is there other things seem wrong...if no, then nothing wrong.
My Tangs often use only one side or the other at times. If they are relaxed then they dont need so much oxygen at once.....
On Fenners web site, he was asked a very simular question about a Dussumieri Tang. His answer "" Maybe nothing. Sometimes fishes do just seem to use one side/gills. Bob Fenner ""
That is sweet of you. Come to think of it... I also have a brittle star fish. I hear that harlequins like choc chips and linikia or however you spell it... will it eat a brittle, do you think?
Thanks for giving me a little bit of hope. Sometimes my fish do do weird things and then they just come out of it for no reason. I am hoping that this will fix itself.

 

[porthosandjazz]

Anyone? Will the harlequin be mean to my fish and will he eat brittle starfish?
Btw, my sailfin is still alive and still lookin ok at this point.

 

[azul1994]

I do believe that it will eat the brittle star, but no harlequin shrimp will not be mean to shrimp, i would think the other way around, harlequin shrimp are tiny!
Most people keep them in a species only tank.

 

[michaeltx]

they will eat any starfish but I think the brittle will put up a fight.
before getting them though be sure that you can provide them with food since they only eat stars that means buying starfish for them to eat! I dont have access to cheap stars so they are way out of my reach.
as far as the tang not real sure might try posting in the disease forum and see if anyone that frequents that forum has a clue on it
Mike

 

[porthosandjazz]

Originally Posted by azul1994
I do believe that it will eat the brittle star, but no harlequin shrimp will not be mean to shrimp, i would think the other way around, harlequin shrimp are tiny!
Most people keep them in a species only tank.
Wow. Ok. Thank you. I don't think I want to get a tank just for the harlequin shrimp. And the starfish. I have five other shrimp as it is (2 cleaners, 2 fires and 1 coral banded). I can see the coral banded ripping the harlequin's head off

 

[porthosandjazz]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
they will eat any starfish but I think the brittle will put up a fight.
before getting them though be sure that you can provide them with food since they only eat stars that means buying starfish for them to eat! I dont have access to cheap stars so they are way out of my reach.
as far as the tang not real sure might try posting in the disease forum and see if anyone that frequents that forum has a clue on it
Mike
Thank you so very much! I would have no problem with buying choc chip starfish. They are very cheap. Problem is, I kinda love my little cc star, climbing all over the tank and doing crazy cirque du soliel acrobats, it's hilarious. I have had him for 7 months. So seeing him being slowing eaten like some sort of crazy cannibalistic medieval torture would kinda make me a little nauseous. But I do need to get rid of him because I want to start getting a lot of ricordeas. And he likes those. So I am just going to donate him back to the lfs where someone can provide him with a good home.
That, plus my other shrimp would probably kill the harlequin anyway, so that would not be the way to get rid of my choc chip star anyway.
Thank you all so much!!!!!