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triggercrazy
07/24/2003, 09:23 PM
here is a pic of my harliquen shrimp(sorry it is the best i could get):lol:

jdsabin1
07/24/2003, 10:46 PM
Here's one of mine. :)

http://www.jeffsabin.com/Personalpics/harley.jpg

SaveOurReefs
07/24/2003, 11:02 PM
Nice shrimp... what kind of camera are you using ?

DgenR8
07/25/2003, 08:25 PM
:D
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/568/2042Harlequin_and_lunch_4-med.JPG

DgenR8
07/25/2003, 08:27 PM
For the benefit of anyone reading this thread that wasn't already aware, Harlequins eat ONLY starfish! They are beautiful creatures, but get expensive to feed. My pair can go through 3 large CC stars in a week.

jdsabin1
07/25/2003, 09:00 PM
Hmmm, I may want to rethink my feeding schedule then as I was feeding my pair a cc every other week.

DgenR8
07/26/2003, 08:39 AM
Originally posted by jdsabin1
Hmmm, I may want to rethink my feeding schedule then as I was feeding my pair a cc every other week.

WOW! I have never left them without a star to eat for more than 3, maybe 4 days, and I felt bad about that. I honestly don't know how long they can go without. I go to the LFS, and pick up as many CC stars as they have on hand, and toss them in my 'fuge with the shrimp. Once the shrimp start on them, the clean up crew comes out to help finish the job. I guess the shrimp don't actually eat the whole star, the worms and pods do their share.
How long do your shrimp take to finish off a star after they start on it?

jdsabin1
07/26/2003, 03:23 PM
Based on all the books I've read, they can be fed one star a month(!), but I have never taken that chance and feed them one every two weeks or so. They eat the star within 4 days or so.

My lfs charges me $6 per cc star.

dc
07/26/2003, 10:33 PM
But how big a star is that? I had to separate my 2 females so they didn't kill each other. I just keep 2 med in at all times.

http://images3.fotki.com/v32/photos/2/28482/235116/18harley-vi.jpg

http://images3.fotki.com/v32/photos/2/28482/235116/26-vi.jpg

Gerard the fish
08/03/2003, 12:15 PM
They only need one every two weeks, however if you put one in the tank they will eat it

thanks

- g

DgenR8
08/03/2003, 01:27 PM
I gave it a shot, and found that if there are 4 stars in there, they'll eat them all in about a week, maybe closer to 10 days. Since my last post, I put only one star in the 'fuge with my shrimp, and they have been slowly milking that one for 8 or 9 days. It's still alive, and they're still eating it, but much slower than when they have many to choose from. I guess this is probably the better way to go. I know my pocket likes it better this way. I'm not sure if the shrimp do or not.

dchisenh
08/03/2003, 02:12 PM
I think your wallet will like it MUCH better if you allow the harlequin shrimp to eat their starfish slower. :D

I've read that they will often eat just the arms, leaving the oral disk intact so that the starfish will still be alive for quite awhile. My guess is that as soon as the clean-up crew smelled the injured starfish, they came in and finished the job and that's why you were going through so many starfish! Once a month (or maybe twice a month if you start to feel sorry for them :p ) is a good feeding schedule from what I've heard. I don't have any harlequins, but would love to get a pair if I can get my hands on 'em. :) Enjoy them since ya have 'em. :D

-Dan

hackster1
08/03/2003, 10:51 PM
Hey guys,

Mine eats one CC starfish every 3-4 weeks.. so far he has a couple of legs left.

I was told that they will only eat Chocolate chip starfish, so i feed just that. Just my .02 :D

Leo

SteveC
08/03/2003, 11:03 PM
Here's a link to someone who says hers are to be fed one Linckia starfish every two months: http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/helegans.html

I don't have any of these shrimp myself, but I find them fascinating so I'm always following discussions about them! :)

Kelly
08/04/2003, 08:03 AM
I'm currently feeding my pair of Harleys 1 medium size cc star every other week. I have noticed that they are finishing them off faster and are hanging out in the front of the tank more often, I guess looking for more starfish to munch on..

Question: Can I add a few scarlet or blue leg hermits to my 12g. nano or will they bother the harleys?? My clean up crew right now is all snails and they could use some help..