Harlequin Shrimp

Did you get them today..... Need to see some pics!!!

 

Let me know how them eating the asterina works out for you.. I have never seen them touch one as have several friend's either.. GAEF posted that they used them yrs ago to also control the problem stars But it won't happen. Also after keeping several pairs for many yrs I also never saw them eat any frozen or dead starts either. If you think a Chocolate chip star will wander around a tank with them in it LOL That won't happen either. As soon as food aka Starfish hits the water out they come and envenomate it and haul it into their den.. Once a month is average for a large pair they wat from the tips in to the main disc. So the star lives for a few weeks .. You will know its time to feed them when you see them hunting ..

 

And I want them "hunting" asterinas...

LFS (very knowledgable) says he has sold a number of them for this very purpose...and has received reports of great success. We will see...

The shrimp are in "acclimation" now...they are GORGEOUS! --- Hawiaan variety with molted blues, orange and pink coloring. Female has eggs!

They arrived with a starfish of some sort, but I am inclined to put in sump for couple of days.

Sorry camera is in Portland with traveling daughter...but pics will come!

 

They get testy when she is gravid LOL I Hope they work for you.. But man you'll love them I do. Great to watch them feed they ponce o the Star and send it in to a comma and flip it and haul it away. Amazing the strength they can exhibit. I used to put the star in on the opposite end from there Den and make them haul it all the way back over and under all the rocks.

 

(not my photo) but my new shrimp look like this...

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They are in tank now...they have taken up residence in a nice little protected cove.

Fish are taking turns checking them out...none have shown any agression towards them. But am concerned about my large shrimp goby.

The Harlequins are pretty good sized...

But I worry.:-/

 

Get some pics when you can. Every time I see a picture of them it almost seems computer generated because of the awsome colors. Congrats on the new additions...Poppa ;D

 

These suckers are pretty tough and will defend their territory aggressively, especially if you have a mated pair and the female becomes gravid.

 

Well they survived their first night in tank. Got up couple of times to check on them and all OK this a.m.

Was just a bit worried because of all the attention they got from the other fish when first introduced to tank. esp. my large female maroon clown.

I had recently lost a small cleaner shrimp to "someone." --- but these guys are big enough (I hope) not to be bothered with.

 

I seen the pics you uploaded....is that the new additions?????

 

Not mine yet, but identical twins...

Mine grabbed their piece of starfish they were shipped with after I left them without it for couple of days and retreated to back of tank somewhere...I just can get a glimpse of them thru the rocks now and then.

My plan is to get a chocolate chip star tomorrow and tie it with a piece of fishing line to rock in front of tank so I can enjoy watching them do "their thing." --- and to keep the CC in one place.

I want to get them in one area so I can "train" them to eat asterinas.