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Old October 11th 06, 05:03 PM posted to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs
George Patterson
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Default 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.