Asterina and Harlequin

[Mark_C]

Lived in the UK for many years. If I ever open my US based dream pub, 'A+H' in short running for the name.

Anyways. I've been living with asterina for quite some time but now they're getting out of control. I can now look at any rock in the tank and find a half dozen of them in plain sight, and my coraline is slowly being eaten away.

So. Harlequins.

If its viable I may put one or two in my DT for control. I may put one in my 10g invert tank and catch and transfer asterina over ('The Claw! I am chosen!').

Anyone have 'em? And, if so, how do they do with the astrinas? I'm looking for the hunter killer vibe here.

Also, early on I've had one or two animals die post completing their job, would hate to have that happen here and I'm not into organ farming starfish. One the astrena menace is crushed under the wavy brown and white claw of democracy will they survive on anything else to anyone's experience?

 

[lefkonj]

I don't have mine anymore but they will eat those puppies up very nicely. If you can get a pair they will last a while in your tanks. Mine stayed for over 9 months before they just disappeared. They really eat all starfish and nothing but starfish.

 

[kschweer]

I had one in the past and it worked great. I thought I had a lot but when I put the harlequin in I realized that my tank was swarming with them. The Morning after adding him the front glass Was covered in them. I guess they felt the impending doom that was coming.

 

[greybolt03]

I have a pair in my 225. They will go thru the tiny stars very quickly I feed my pair a large CC star every 2 weeks.

 

[greybolt03]

If you don't want to commit to buying one and want to borrow my pair just till they eradicate the stars from your tank shoot me a pm.

 

[lefkonj]

I would add this, they left my serpent star alone. didn't touch it at all. Not sure why but so it goes.

 

[Mark_C]

Well, I know I replied to this last night, though the post seems to have disappeared. REgardless, thanks Grey! I'd feel horrible if anything happeded, so I was thinking about picking up a 'club assassin harlequin' that I'd pass on once he cleaned up my tank.

 

[Hawkeye]

I've got tons of asterinas - but i also have a halloween urchin that I like to keep (bulldozer though he is) - I think the harlequin will consume urchins as well.

 

[MadReefer]

I use to have a ton of them; front glass covered every morning. I posted here and people came and took them for their Harlequins. Was easier than buying them unless you really want them.

 

[Mark_C]

The Morning after adding him the front glass Was covered in them. I guess they felt the impending doom that was coming.

Thought that sounded strange, but it seems there must be either some kind of astrina warning system or some kind of chemical the harlequin gives off.
I put a harlequin in the tank last night and this morning the glass is covered with dozens of astrinas. Never saw that before.

 

[lefkonj]

They will not touch urchins, only starfish. The starfish do run for cover as they realize somehow that something is about to consume them