harlequin shrimp

[eric c]

I am very fascinated with the harlequin shrimp, and I really wanted to get one but it's dietary needs seem so extreme. Is there any cheaper way to feed this sucker than buying a new starfish every week for it to eat. Will it eat anything else or does anyone know of a place that sells frozen starfish or starfish in a bottle (weird as it may sound)?

[nolofinwe]

in a tank with excellent water quality you can sustain a population of blue or orange linkias, or in a tank with no corals, easier to propogate chocolate chip stars can be used.

intelligetn shrimps will come to understand how to eat the starfish limbs independently, allowing the starfish to regenerate its legs in time, to become another future snack.

however, this can be hit or miss, and in my opinion, its so gruesome to watch (the harlequin is a very effective carnivore....) that i dont think i could stomach keeping one.

but hey, its possible.