Harlequin Shrimp VS Serpent star fish

bobfish4black · 03/08/2016, 05:49 PM

Has anyone actually seen a harlequin shrimp eat a serpent star of any size?

NautiFish · 03/08/2016, 11:33 PM

I've always fed mine chocolate chips due to the low price, but I would be interested to know if any one else has as well.

Big E · 03/09/2016, 01:56 AM

I had harlequin shrimp with a brittle star and he never tried to eat it. They are too fast and can wedge themselves into the smallest crevice to avoid capture.

cvore2004 · 03/09/2016, 06:48 AM

I hope this holds true, because I've got asterinas and I'm sick of picking at them 6-12/day, but don't want my serpent to die.

Though I am moving in a month, so I may just pull him and put him in the sump for a month or two and get a Harlequin to work on things, then try to sell it afterwards.

Bent · 03/09/2016, 07:07 AM

Supposedly linkias eat asterina stars.

MondoBongo · 03/09/2016, 09:00 AM

it is my understanding that harlequin shrimp feed on the tube feet of the star fish, and that serpent (aka brittle) starfish lack these particular types of feet.

therefore, the serpent star *should* be safe. although keep in mind that this is an assumption based on what i think i know, and not something that i have tested first hand.

SNAKEMANVET · 03/09/2016, 10:10 AM

I had a pair of harlequin shrimp with my brittle star fish they never bothered it.

Urchinhead · 03/09/2016, 10:25 AM

Keep in mind that Harlequin's are messy eaters so you need to be sure your skimmer and filtration are up to it.

anbosu · 03/09/2016, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

Supposedly linkias eat asterina stars.

Mine do, although I don't know that they can eat enough to keep up with the population.

bobfish4black · 03/09/2016, 07:17 PM

I feed my shrimp chocolate stars, well i keep the stars in sump and snip a leg off every week and a half, have a few of them, but what i really want to know is if anyone has seen the shrimp eat serpent stars!

killinit123 · 03/09/2016, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urchinhead

Keep in mind that Harlequin's are messy eaters so you need to be sure your skimmer and filtration are up to it.

I was under the impression that the death of a CCS has no ill effect on water chemistry.. this very well could be false just wondering what the CCS would give off in terms of a nutrient that would be bad for our tanks?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MondoBongo

it is my understanding that harlequin shrimp feed on the tube feet of the star fish, and that serpent (aka brittle) starfish lack these particular types of feet.

therefore, the serpent star *should* be safe. although keep in mind that this is an assumption based on what i think i know, and not something that i have tested first hand.

I believe you are correct about this

Urchinhead · 03/12/2016, 03:32 PM

I can't find the reference as Chuck's Addiction seems to be replaced by some hotel spam site. But from memory the way the cells of the star's are constructed in such a way that they form sharp spikes that can damage corals

03/08/2016, 05:49 PM	#1
bobfish4black Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: BC Canada Posts: 198	Harlequin Shrimp VS Serpent star fish Has anyone actually seen a harlequin shrimp eat a serpent star of any size? __________________ 187 custom reef tank, Running ZeoVit, Apex New Gen, Jebao DCS 12000 return, custom180 Euro-reef skimmer, Mazzi venturi and mag 18, Lighting-2 60" XHO blue reefbrites , with 8x60" T-5, 3 Maxspect Gyre Current Tank Info: 187 Gallon reef tank, ZeoVit with Vibe, Apex classic, Jebao DCS 12000 return pump, custom180 Euro-reef skimmer with Mazzi venturi and mag 18pump, Lighting-2 60" XHO blue reefbrites , with 8x60" T-5, 3 Maxspect Gyre XF150

03/09/2016, 01:56 AM	#3
Big E Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Euclid, OH Posts: 4,281	I had harlequin shrimp with a brittle star and he never tried to eat it. They are too fast and can wedge themselves into the smallest crevice to avoid capture. __________________ 80g Rimless Acropora System reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31 Ed

03/09/2016, 07:07 AM	#5
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Supposedly linkias eat asterina stars. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

03/09/2016, 09:00 AM	#6
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	it is my understanding that harlequin shrimp feed on the tube feet of the star fish, and that serpent (aka brittle) starfish lack these particular types of feet. therefore, the serpent star should be safe. although keep in mind that this is an assumption based on what i think i know, and not something that i have tested first hand. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

03/09/2016, 07:17 PM	#10
bobfish4black Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: BC Canada Posts: 198	I feed my shrimp chocolate stars, well i keep the stars in sump and snip a leg off every week and a half, have a few of them, but what i really want to know is if anyone has seen the shrimp eat serpent stars! __________________ 187 custom reef tank, Running ZeoVit, Apex New Gen, Jebao DCS 12000 return, custom180 Euro-reef skimmer, Mazzi venturi and mag 18, Lighting-2 60" XHO blue reefbrites , with 8x60" T-5, 3 Maxspect Gyre Current Tank Info: 187 Gallon reef tank, ZeoVit with Vibe, Apex classic, Jebao DCS 12000 return pump, custom180 Euro-reef skimmer with Mazzi venturi and mag 18pump, Lighting-2 60" XHO blue reefbrites , with 8x60" T-5, 3 Maxspect Gyre XF150

03/08/2016, 11:33 PM	#2
NautiFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5	I've always fed mine chocolate chips due to the low price, but I would be interested to know if any one else has as well.

03/09/2016, 06:48 AM	#4
cvore2004 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Salt Lake City, Ut Posts: 109	I hope this holds true, because I've got asterinas and I'm sick of picking at them 6-12/day, but don't want my serpent to die. Though I am moving in a month, so I may just pull him and put him in the sump for a month or two and get a Harlequin to work on things, then try to sell it afterwards.

03/09/2016, 10:10 AM	#7
SNAKEMANVET PREMIUM MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TRENTON Tn Posts: 4,486	I had a pair of harlequin shrimp with my brittle star fish they never bothered it.

03/09/2016, 10:25 AM	#8
Urchinhead Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Gabriel, California Posts: 681	Keep in mind that Harlequin's are messy eaters so you need to be sure your skimmer and filtration are up to it.

03/12/2016, 03:32 PM	#12
Urchinhead Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Gabriel, California Posts: 681	I can't find the reference as Chuck's Addiction seems to be replaced by some hotel spam site. But from memory the way the cells of the star's are constructed in such a way that they form sharp spikes that can damage corals