Harlequin Shrimp

[Vincenzo.]

anyone have any?

i finally made the decision to set up my aqua medic nano wave 9..and  make it a Harlequin Shrimp tank w/ mixed corals. i wont be getting them for about a month but....

any heads up in advance?


-Vince

[Achilles]

Are you prepared to by a steady supply of starfish to feed them. I tried them a while ago. I had a pair in a 55 gallon.They need bigger type starfish such as chocolate chip or linkia. i tried to give them the tiny astrea starfish but they never when after them. They are beautiful but to me are such specialize feeders and on top of that will a 9 gallon be able to sustain the star fish.

[Vincenzo.]

i have seen them eating smaller star fish that's what i was hoping.

[salvini55]

Keeping a 9 gallon clean after they demolish a starfish would be a pain in the... I think they are awesome critters and also want a pair but I'll live vicariously through you  . I asked Ray, he said he could get me some so talk to him about it. Instant pics required if you do get them!!!

[Vincenzo.]

ya i think im going to do it because the nano wave 9 comes with a built in skimmer and fuge. plus a few spots to hav some cool things, so i think the demolition of the star will be handled well by the tank.

[Vincenzo.]

would a 6lined wrasse eat harlequin shrimp?

[PMurphy]

I don't know but I'm pretty sure that a wrasse is not going to be happy in a 9 gallon tank. Those fish love their swimming space.

FWIW I looked into getting some harlequin shrimp for my 29 gallon. I wasn't put off by the fact I'd have to keep feeding it starfish, but when it was explained to me that with the amount of sand available in a tank that small the starfish might just starve before the harlequin has a chance to eat them. Plus if there is no bacteria for starfish to munch on what exactly is going to be cleaning you tank of all the crap the starfish's death creates?

Lastly, I wouldn't count on that skimmer to do more that aerate the water a little bit. The sapphire link of nano skimmers I have heard good things about (I have a ocutpus 110 on mine so I can't speak for experience) but I wouldn't expect much from anything that small.

[Vincenzo.]

ya the 6line is a no no.
and the shrimp im unsure.