Mihai":2lfft0sm said:
Heh, if we knew exactly what they ate there wouldn't be all this mystery about their "reefsafe-ness". No one is even really sure what Linkia stars eat. What I do know for certain is that Asterinas will reproduce in almost any reef tank. I'm going torely on fellow reefers in the area to supply me with them, hopefully.
Just wanted to post a follow-up. Wade gave me some asterinas yesterday, and today, my harlequin found one and is eating it. It's kinda funny: He's holding it like corn-on-the-cob!
And in the short time the harlequin has been in the tank, it did not seem to bother hermits, serpent stars, or the cucumber or corals.
Now, I just need the asterinas to start multiplying to keep the little shrimpy well-fed.
And in the short time the harlequin has been in the tank, it did not seem to bother hermits, serpent stars, or the cucumber or corals.
Now, I just need the asterinas to start multiplying to keep the little shrimpy well-fed.
I certainly still have more. After the.. what? 30-50 that I passed on to you, I have probably 3x that many still in the main tank (and that whole bag of 50 or so I lost into the sump!). In a month or two or three, I'm sure I will still have tons. Unless I pick up a harlequin for my desktop nano, now that we know they do feed on them. 
Pics! pics!
Pics! pics!
At this point, I will take all of the asterinas I can get. The shrimp ate at least two yesterday, and I will try and keep count of how frequently it eats. Hopefully, the fact that I have seen it eat indicates some success that will lead to longevity.
I roughly divided the asterinas you gave me into the display and the refugium. In the latter, I can hopefully have them reproduce. I am just not sure how long that will take until I can be self-sustaining and give back to the community here.
I roughly divided the asterinas you gave me into the display and the refugium. In the latter, I can hopefully have them reproduce. I am just not sure how long that will take until I can be self-sustaining and give back to the community here.
My batch of asterinas is running out... although many have grown quite large in the interim. I've been feeding the harlequin one every ten days or so.
Anyone have (more) asterinas to share?
Or, does anyone have experience freezing a chocolate chip star and feeding a harlequin that way? What are the chances of infection if I slice off part of a living chocolate chip star?
Anyone have (more) asterinas to share?
Or, does anyone have experience freezing a chocolate chip star and feeding a harlequin that way? What are the chances of infection if I slice off part of a living chocolate chip star?
Doubt it..Harelquins puncture the arms of the starfish which is believed to flood the arm and immobilize it, thats kind of hard to do on an urchin.. and with all the spikes not an easy prey...Andy H":12qhpecf said:
However im looking for some asterina too, not for feeding but for my pico tank...I cannot get them in N. Nevada...my LFS doesnt carry them and the LR the get is usually cultured...
Now here is a subject I know something about. I have been keeping Harleqin shrimp for over 20 years,I started keep them when there was little knowen about them. I have learned of what they will eat and not eat. There are 2 species ,H. elegans which over 90% of the time have the blue to purple in there spots,and H. picta which over 90% of time have pink/salmon to red in there spots. They will eat most stars except serpent, and no they will not eat sea erchins . They also not eat frozen sea stars. They have to be alive or they won't eat them. Thats too bad because it would be a lot easier for a food sorce. So what I did was set up a 10 gal star tank to have an aboundent food supply for them. I always have 2 chocolate chips in the star tank at all times. Mine will ploish of a 4in in three weeks,then I waite a week and give them another one. They are well worth keeping.
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