Let's talk about Harlequin shrimp - Page 15

tonypittman · 02/14/2015, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotfrogs

Tony - that is a really nice shrimp! Where did you get the pair and how much did you pay? My pair would separate every now and again. You may want to cut the next star in half to ensure they both eat. Hopefully they will pair back up.

The pair came from Diver's Den. They were sold as a pair, but shipped in separate bags. Maybe the bond was forgotten/lost?

Since that photo, I have had to move the male to another tank. He was getting beaten up pretty bad. I hope he makes it.

The female seems content on her own, but I really wanted to keep a pair.

Maybe I need to try another male...possibly a bigger one. The female has grown noticeably over the last couple of weeks.

ideas welcome!

Calappidae · 02/14/2015, 07:18 PM

It's possible one species is an H. Elegans, and the other is a H. picta. I have a similar situation here, my male is an H. elegans, and the female is a H. picta and they share food together, they breed, they hang near each other, but never travel or walk around the tank together.

tonypittman · 02/14/2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calappidae

It's possible one species is an H. Elegans, and the other is a H. picta. I have a similar situation here, my male is an H. elegans, and the female is a H. picta and they share food together, they breed, they hang near each other, but never travel or walk around the tank together.

I think mine are the same species. But, I'd take your situation over the one I have. At least your female is not trying to kill your male!

brownguy918 · 03/01/2015, 12:22 PM

Will they eat all starfish? ( Sea serpint? ) I am new to this hobby and do not want to add something that will start killing everything. I have a lot of Asterina starfish in my main tank. They eat the algae and I have not had a problem with them yet but am concerned with them getting out of control. One year old 180 gallon saltwater, aquarium 30 gallon refugium and 36 gallon sump

gotfrogs · 03/01/2015, 12:23 PM

The will not eat sea serpents

Betta132 · 03/01/2015, 12:27 PM

These are not a creature to purchase for asterina control. They will eat all the asterinas and will then starve if not fed. You have to be prepared to buy starfish for the rest of their lives.
Asterinas are harmless, just feed a bit less and the population won't go out of control.

paul87 · 03/01/2015, 12:57 PM

They will eat some brittle stars though, if they have the chance. Thats only if that is all that is left. Most brittles can get away though. They don't mess with serpents. Bongo shrimp eat brittles and I think serpents, not positive on the serpents. If your using one for asterina control have a plan before purchase. Either have a future home for it where it will be fed she it is done or plan to buy a starfish at least every month for it. They are remarkable creatures and a joy to keep.

Calappidae · 03/01/2015, 09:07 PM

Hymenocera will not eat serpent or brittle starfish. Both lack tubefeet which is the only part of the star they eat. On very rare circumstances, they may attack a sea urchin however. I may have experienced this only once.. but I never physically seen the harlequins attack the urchin, only just a sudden disappearence.

Bumblebee shrimp, a relative of harlequin shrimp also live on a tubefeet diet (though not obligant) going after the same prey as harlys. Actually, I witnessed large numbers of bumbleshrimp being "hosted" by a sea apple, I believe that could've been potential prey for them since they do have tubefeet.. if that's the same for hymenocera I don't know.

paul87 · 03/17/2015, 09:07 AM

They will eat these!... which is my newest addition since the Harlequin is gone. So, this is what I traded off for I suppose. LOL. They are both very beautiful, the harlequin with the coolest personality though. Just thought I would share my red linkia, a definite food source for a harlequin.

paul87 · 03/17/2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calappidae

Hymenocera will not eat serpent or brittle starfish. Both lack tubefeet which is the only part of the star they eat. On very rare circumstances, they may attack a sea urchin however. I may have experienced this only once.. but I never physically seen the harlequins attack the urchin, only just a sudden disappearence.

Bumblebee shrimp, a relative of harlequin shrimp also live on a tubefeet diet (though not obligant) going after the same prey as harlys. Actually, I witnessed large numbers of bumbleshrimp being "hosted" by a sea apple, I believe that could've been potential prey for them since they do have tubefeet.. if that's the same for hymenocera I don't know.

That does seem to make sense and that what I thought as well. Google research led to a lot of mixed reviews on that though. I do believe you to be correct though.

aquatictec · 04/28/2015, 12:18 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...rlequin+shrimp

02/14/2015, 07:18 PM	#352
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	It's possible one species is an H. Elegans, and the other is a H. picta. I have a similar situation here, my male is an H. elegans, and the female is a H. picta and they share food together, they breed, they hang near each other, but never travel or walk around the tank together. __________________ Joe

03/01/2015, 12:22 PM	#354
brownguy918 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 3	let's talk about harlequin shrimp Will they eat all starfish? ( Sea serpint? ) I am new to this hobby and do not want to add something that will start killing everything. I have a lot of Asterina starfish in my main tank. They eat the algae and I have not had a problem with them yet but am concerned with them getting out of control. One year old 180 gallon saltwater, aquarium 30 gallon refugium and 36 gallon sump

03/01/2015, 12:27 PM	#356
Betta132 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,239	These are not a creature to purchase for asterina control. They will eat all the asterinas and will then starve if not fed. You have to be prepared to buy starfish for the rest of their lives. Asterinas are harmless, just feed a bit less and the population won't go out of control. __________________ When you put an animal of any kind in a situation where it can no longer fend for itself, such as an aquarium, it's your job to care for it to the best of your ability. It's that simple.

03/01/2015, 09:07 PM	#358
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	Hymenocera will not eat serpent or brittle starfish. Both lack tubefeet which is the only part of the star they eat. On very rare circumstances, they may attack a sea urchin however. I may have experienced this only once.. but I never physically seen the harlequins attack the urchin, only just a sudden disappearence. Bumblebee shrimp, a relative of harlequin shrimp also live on a tubefeet diet (though not obligant) going after the same prey as harlys. Actually, I witnessed large numbers of bumbleshrimp being "hosted" by a sea apple, I believe that could've been potential prey for them since they do have tubefeet.. if that's the same for hymenocera I don't know. __________________ Joe

04/28/2015, 12:18 PM	#361
aquatictec RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 265	Our experience raising harlequin shrimp http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...rlequin+shrimp

03/01/2015, 12:23 PM	#355
gotfrogs Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dickinson, TX Posts: 1,215	The will not eat sea serpents

03/01/2015, 12:57 PM	#357
paul87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 291	They will eat some brittle stars though, if they have the chance. Thats only if that is all that is left. Most brittles can get away though. They don't mess with serpents. Bongo shrimp eat brittles and I think serpents, not positive on the serpents. If your using one for asterina control have a plan before purchase. Either have a future home for it where it will be fed she it is done or plan to buy a starfish at least every month for it. They are remarkable creatures and a joy to keep.

03/17/2015, 09:07 AM	#359
paul87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 291	They will eat these!... which is my newest addition since the Harlequin is gone. So, this is what I traded off for I suppose. LOL. They are both very beautiful, the harlequin with the coolest personality though. Just thought I would share my red linkia, a definite food source for a harlequin.