Do Harlequin Shrimp eat the entire sea star?

[BelieveInBlue]

I've been seeing some conflicting info. Some sites/people say that they only eat the tube feet, while others say they eat the entire star. I assume they must eat the entire star, otherwise they wouldn't be able to demolish Asterina populations right?

Also, are they particular to any species of sea star? I know chocolate chip stars are the most commonly used for feeding harlequin shrimp, but if I wanted to give it a varied diet, could i use other species (sand sifting star, Linckia, red reef stars, etc)?
What about wild stars? There are plenty of cold water stars where I live, like ochre stars, bat stars, and blood stars. Would Harlequin shrimp eat those as well?


Edit: I should note that I do not currently own a harlequin shrimp. I'm thinking about getting one but I would like to have a good idea of what I'm getting myself into before I buy one.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I’ve read that they like to try to keep star alive to get maximum value (eat a leg at a time) but I don’t see why they wouldn’t eat the whole star eventually

 

[kev.2013]

I believe that they eat the whole star. I have 1 on my tank, who has destroyed my asterina population, but I don’t see any asterina carcasses in my tank; which makes me think they finish them all.

 

[DaneGer21]

I believe that they eat the whole star. I have 1 on my tank, who has destroyed my asterina population, but I don’t see any asterina carcasses in my tank; which makes me think they finish them all.

Same

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I've been seeing some conflicting info. Some sites/people say that they only eat the tube feet, while others say they eat the entire star. I assume they must eat the entire star, otherwise they wouldn't be able to demolish Asterina populations right?

Also, are they particular to any species of sea star? I know chocolate chip stars are the most commonly used for feeding harlequin shrimp, but if I wanted to give it a varied diet, could i use other species (sand sifting star, Linckia, red reef stars, etc)?
What about wild stars? There are plenty of cold water stars where I live, like ochre stars, bat stars, and blood stars. Would Harlequin shrimp eat those as well?


Edit: I should note that I do not currently own a harlequin shrimp. I'm thinking about getting one but I would like to have a good idea of what I'm getting myself into before I buy one.

I’ve personally owned a pair and they are very messy eaters. They do not eat the whole star fish if you feed them chocolate chip stars. They primarily want to eat the feet but tend to eat little more then that and then leave a pile of debris chunks of flesh

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Depending on the star ive seen them die before being fully eaten. The most sustainable way to keep them is to keep a seperate tank or sump filled with astrinas or chocolate stars. If youre feeding chocolate stars only cut the tip of a leg off once a week. With about 3 chocolates you should be able to feed a harlequin indefinitely without killing the stars

 

[dvgyfresh]

You can buy like 500 asterina stars off eBay for cheap also or buy a bigger starfish and freeze it / cut off a leg a week or something , I like starfish too much so I could never haha

 

[BelieveInBlue]

I’ve personally owned a pair and they are very messy eaters. They do not eat the whole star fish if you feed them chocolate chip stars. They primarily want to eat the feet but tend to eat little more then that and then leave a pile of debris chunks of flesh

How often do you feed yours? I wonder if you ease up on the feedings would they be more inclined to polish off the entire star?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

How often do you feed yours? I wonder if you ease up on the feedings would they be more inclined to polish off the entire star?

They will not because when they are done they leave the dead leftover body and do not go back to it. Then 2-3 weeks later they out searching tank again to eat.

 

[BelieveInBlue]

Have you tried feeding them other stars to see what happens? How long does a chocolate chip star last them?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Have you tried feeding them other stars to see what happens? How long does a chocolate chip star last them?

Lol do you know how much other stars cost compaired to chocolate they eat for couple days then good for 2-3 weeks

 

[BelieveInBlue]

Idk my lfs has sandsifting stars for 25 and chocolate chip for 20. Red reef for 30 I think? Not that much more considering they eat about once a month or so.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Idk my lfs has sandsifting stars for 25 and chocolate chip for 20. Red reef for 30 I think? Not that much more considering they eat about once a month or so.

Yea at the time I was doing this was getting chocolate for 4$

 

[jaganshi066]

I’ve personally owned a pair and they are very messy eaters. They do not eat the whole star fish if you feed them chocolate chip stars. They primarily want to eat the feet but tend to eat little more then that and then leave a pile of debris chunks of flesh

My harlequin eats the whole starfish, he leaves some of the hardened material inside the starfish but no flesh left.

 

[jaganshi066]

Yea at the time I was doing this was getting chocolate for 4$

A few of mine has chocolates for $10

 

[((FORDTECH))]

My harlequin eats the whole starfish, he leaves some of the hardened material inside the starfish but no flesh left.

Yea like little white chunks of something. It was like body rubble. I never really examined it I just scooped it out and threw it away I felt like I left it in the tank it would pollute the water that’s for sure

 

[jaganshi066]

Yea like little white chunks of something. It was like body rubble. I never really examined it I just scooped it out and threw it away I felt like I left it in the tank it would pollute the water that’s for sure

Yes, same here just little white chunks.

 

[BelieveInBlue]

Hmm.... What about wild caught stars? Anybody ever try those? I'm pretty close to the beach and we get all kinds of cold water species I could easily chop off a leg or two (or 10 in the case of sun stars) every week. I don't mind going to the beach either so as long as harlequins eat them I'm more than happy to take monthly trips to the beach.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Hmm.... What about wild caught stars? Anybody ever try those? I'm pretty close to the beach and we get all kinds of cold water species I could easily chop off a leg or two (or 10 in the case of sun stars) every week. I don't mind going to the beach either so as long as harlequins eat them I'm more than happy to take monthly trips to the beach.

I don’t think shrimp will mind other starfish , I’d be more worried of what that star would bring into yr system, it’s from a different environment carrying different bacteria/diseases and from the wild on top of that. I would never catch mice to feed my snake for example. But it could aslo be fine just a risk

 

[BelieveInBlue]

I don’t think shrimp will mind other starfish , I’d be more worried of what that star would bring into yr system, it’s from a different environment carrying different bacteria/diseases and from the wild on top of that. I would never catch mice to feed my snake for example. But it could aslo be fine just a risk

I figured that coldwater diseases wouldn't translate to a tropical setting, but just in case I could always freeze the limbs for a week before feeding it. I doubt a coldwater star would survive at 78F anyways so it probably wouldn't make a huge difference.