My harlequin shrimp in action..

[TanGo]

Hehe.. Check out this little fella...

[TanGo]

Another view..

[alexlean]

it's kool. I saw it at harlequin but dare not buy cos don't know how to feed it. He says the feed only on starfish . .don' tknow where to get so much star fish for them ,. .and could be quite costly to maintain them .. i don't know.

Please advise

[TanGo]

it's kool. I saw it at harlequin but dare not buy cos don't know how to feed it. He says the feed only on starfish . .don' tknow where to get so much star fish for them ,. .and could be quite costly to maintain them .. i don't know.

Please advise

It's not hard to maintain lah.. They usually take a long time to finish a starfish.. I have 4 in my 2 ft tank.. 2 pairs

[alexlean]

how do u maintain the starfish alive ?

Mine dies off in a week when i try to raise the starfish in tank to see if it'll survive for the harlequin shrimp to eat

[TanGo]

how do u maintain the starfish alive ?

Mine dies off in a week when i try to raise the starfish in tank to see if it'll survive for the harlequin shrimp to eat

My harlequin shrimp will keep the starfish alive.. Then they will slowly munch the limbs off.. then until nothing else to eat, then finish off the starfish..

[alexlean]

how much is the starfish and size of starfish you buy for them. How long will a starfish last ? 1 week or a few days

[TanGo]

how much is the starfish and size of starfish you buy for them. How long will a starfish last ? 1 week or a few days

Depends.. Sometimes I get it for $3.. Average size.. Sometimes I get it for $5.. Normally I get different speices.. It will last more than a week..

[souphamster]

my starfish die a few days ago.. damm stink.. u mean the shrimp really eat the whole thing? even the hard part of the starfish?? can finish meh? we all no need to clear the mess?

[TanGo]

Dunn worry, harlequin shrimps will finish the whole thing, get anything except the blue linkin star, they are more fleshy and have more fibres floating around the tank, the rest will only have bits of white skeleton chips lying on the sandbed.... not obvious one..

[boxfish]

Hi tango,

what's the price range of this shrimp? Where did you get it?

Thanks.

[lona]

Hi Tango,

What starfish is that in the picture? Is that a brittle star?

When u say average size..what is it's diameter roughly? I understand these stars are quite good for the sand right?

[junlover]

issnt it abit cruel to buy defenceless n let e harlequin shrimp attack on it? ...

any other thing we can try to feed it wif instead??

[TanGo]

Prices range between $16 to $40 each.. Yes, thats a brittle star... Average size is around 4-5"... Their diet is only starfishes...

[TanGo]

issnt it abit cruel to buy defenceless n let e harlequin shrimp attack on it? ... any other thing we can try to feed it wif instead??

Its part of the food chain. Its like we eating defenceless chicken.. Are we being cruel? In the wild, harlequin shrimp control the population of starfishes...

[eprouve]

Hi Tango, beautiful pictures. I know its a little but what (ie: brand, model) camera are you using? Tripod?

[KingFish]

It's not hard to maintain lah.. They usually take a long time to finish a starfish.. I have 4 in my 2 ft tank.. 2 pairs

Just wondering, if your pairs are mated, would they spawn on a regular basis like AT's CBS?

Then would it be difficult then to buy starfish fitting to a small / juvenile Harlequin?

[junlover]

oh,icic~

[Tanzy]

That's not a bristle star, that's a sand sifter star. Those with DSB must avoid this starfish cause it will deplete sand fauna then starve to death.

[lona]

hmm..ok tanzy.

But wondering here, is it possible to get brittle stars? do the lfs sell them? I'm in the process of doing some homework for stocking my tank come march..can't wait..

[TanGo]

Opps.. Anyway.. I think I lost one of the starfishes.. Might be in the sand somewhere..

I once saw in my tank, in the middle of the night.. on my way to the toilet, many tiny baby shrimps.. Dunno from who also.. Maybe my skunks or even the harlequins.. But after that, all dissapeared.. Maybe I should check my tank see if there are any extra shrimps swimming around.. Hehehe

[KingFish]

on my way to the toilet, many tiny baby shrimps.. Dunno from who also.. Maybe my skunks or even the harlequins

Mated Skunks and Harlequins spawning eh? That ought to be a sight

If only can time properly, each pair spawning at alternating weeks; your fishes and corals will get to have a smogasbord every week.....saving you some treats every now and then....

BTW, what are the odds are keeping the shrimp fries alive to juvenile-hood? (Tango's or coelacanth's brood...)

[TanGo]

Mated Skunks and Harlequins spawning eh? That ought to be a sight

If only can time properly, each pair spawning at alternating weeks; your fishes and corals will get to have a smogasbord every week.....saving you some treats every now and then....

BTW, what are the odds are keeping the shrimp fries alive to juvenile-hood? (Tango's or coelacanth's brood...)

I think chances are slim.. Need to feed them brine shrimp food..

[TanGo]

Hi Tango, beautiful pictures. I know its a little but what (ie: brand, model) camera are you using? Tripod?

Erm.. Cheapo camera.. Sony P31 no tripod.. Seldom see them in action, so when I saw my harlequin attacking the starfish, I quickly take out camera and take pictures liao.. No time to waste..

[Ian]

I don't know if there still any left but I saw alot of harlequin at Pacific Marine. Don't know how much but was tempted to get it but i should find out about it first. So from this thread, i'm glad i did'nt get it.