Harlequin Shrimp/Starfish
 

I understand that Harlequin Shrimp feed only on Starfish. Do they just "take
a little off"---or do they feed until the starfish is dead?

I love these shrimp---I guess them eating stars is natural----but how do you
reconcile sacrificing the starfish to them?

Harlequin Shrimp/Starfish
 

StringerBell wrote:
I understand that Harlequin Shrimp feed only on Starfish. Do they just "take
a little off"---or do they feed until the starfish is dead?

They kill the starfish.

I love these shrimp---I guess them eating stars is natural----but how do you
reconcile sacrificing the starfish to them?

The same way people with certain fish are reconciled to buying feeder fish. One
of my books suggests that you arrange to buy small starfish once a month from an
LFS. The book was published in Britain in 1978, and perhaps small starfish were
readily available there and then, but I haven't seen "feeder" starfish in the
areas in which I've lived.

George Patterson
All successes in conservation are temporary. All defeats are permanent.

Harlequin Shrimp/Starfish
 

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:sB8Xg.4729$2l5.2919@trnddc07...
StringerBell wrote:
I understand that Harlequin Shrimp feed only on Starfish. Do they just
"take
a little off"---or do they feed until the starfish is dead?

They kill the starfish.

What a drag. Do they just sit on the starfish all day "sucking them dry", or
are the shrimp active around the tank? To be honest, I dont think I could
deal with the "star sacrifice". I know, I know, I`ll be "sacrificing" small
shrimps and smaller pods and plankton all the time.

Harlequin Shrimp/Starfish
 

do all species of starfish regenerate limbs? If so, why not keep
starfish in another tank and "prune" them as needed. Of course there
about a million flaws in this plan...



StringerBell wrote:
"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:sB8Xg.4729$2l5.2919@trnddc07...
StringerBell wrote:
I understand that Harlequin Shrimp feed only on Starfish. Do they just
"take
a little off"---or do they feed until the starfish is dead?

They kill the starfish.

What a drag. Do they just sit on the starfish all day "sucking them dry", or
are the shrimp active around the tank? To be honest, I dont think I could
deal with the "star sacrifice". I know, I know, I`ll be "sacrificing" small
shrimps and smaller pods and plankton all the time.

Harlequin Shrimp/Starfish
 

Adam wrote:
do all species of starfish regenerate limbs? If so, why not keep
starfish in another tank and "prune" them as needed. Of course there
about a million flaws in this plan...

Technically, they eat the tube feet. They'll eat your sea urchins, if
they don't have starfish. They seem to really like chocolate chips
stars.

They are interesting, though. They sit out in plain sight, and aren't
at all bashful. You need a good protein skimmer, though :-)

Mike