Shrimp ID

[StickyTuba]

Can anyone tell me what the name of this shrimp is.
Thanks

 

[steve-s]

Harlequin Shrimp, Hymenocera elegans (blue) & Hymenocera picta (pink).

Cheers
Steve

 

[StickyTuba]

Thank you.

My LFS has one and I think it looks absolutely awesome.
I need to do some research on it before I even think about getting one though.

Thanks again.

 

[steve-s]

I need to do some research on it before I even think about getting one though.

Especially diet. They only consume echinoderms, primarily starfish.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Brad]

...If only I had a bigger tank. I've got a good population of very small starfish, but in a tank my size the harlequin would outeat their ability to reproduce.

I think it would be tough to purchase live starfish to keep him fed.

 

[steve-s]

I think it would be tough to purchase live starfish to keep him fed.

That would honestly be about the only way to do it. Some have had success harvesting limbs only from hardier species but generally one 3" star would feed a single shrimp for about 4-6 weeks.

Cheers
Steve

 

[msuburg]

wow, that's a very cool looking shrimp. I haven't seen that one yet at our LFS. Bummer it only eats echinoderms My brittlestar and starfish wouldn't last - plus they're pretty small right now.