Harlequin Shrimp

[Aquariumist]

Could anybody give me some backround on these things. I have a 16 gallon reef with lps and softies. I also have a percula clown and a scarlet cleaner shrimp. I'm planning on some sort of pygmy angel or wrasse, (or both) and am wondering if they would fit in.

any info would be great.

[travisurfer]

do a search on google. a basic fact is that they only eat ses stars(many call them starfish cept they arent fish)

[Aquariumist]

i did put a search in aon google, but i learned a while back not to trust all what internet sites say. i do however know that HS eat starfish and tube feets of seaurchins, but I have none in my tank so i'm not worried. How big do they get, and are they aggresive,or shyor what.

[nanoreefs415]

i think they require sea stars to for a food source. i think its all they eat.

[surfnvb7]

you need to feed them a good sized starfish each month to keep them alive and happy. starfish is essentially their only food source. other than that, they hide ALOT.

so, basically get a chocolate chip star fish for it each month...i.e. about $30 bucks a month depending on how much your LFS sells the starfish for.

[Aquariumist]

i guess thats outa the question

[ArcticBlue]

In theory though, if someone was to put one in a 16 gallon tank, would the decomposing of the starfish be much of a problem?

[surfnvb7]

good point.......i would imagine so. only people i've known to have them were in very large systems.

[MandM]

Here is one site you can trust. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i2/fatheree%20shrimps/james_w.htm

A good book on reef critters is "Marine Invertabrates" by Ron Shimek.

[MRinCC]

well if you had another tank, you could get several stars and cut off a leg each month and rotate...they will grow their legs back...but alot of work to keep a shrimp...and dont know if i would enjoy making a star lose a leg frequently...

[aural]

i'm a little worried that you are planning to put a pigmy angel in a 16 gallon system. that, my friend, is a terrible idea in itself.

[Kigs]

I used to have a pair in a 10g... so messy. You'll have starfish bodyparts all over your sandbed. If you don't mind them, it'll be alright I guess.