Hello from Tampa!

kiteboarderken · Jul 8, 2024

Hello All- Help please! I had a bad asterina problem, so I purchased a super cool harlequin shrimp. She devoured every one within a month. Now I'm having issues sourcing starfish. This girl is starving! Does anyone in the Tampa area have any starfish (even asterinas) they can spare? Would be willing to trade her for a cool fish as I hate to see her starve to death. Thank you!

revhtree · Jul 8, 2024

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family!

vetteguy53081 · Jul 8, 2024

WalkerLovesTheOcean · Jul 8, 2024

Not anywhere near the Tampa area unfortuantly, so I can't help you. But, welcome to Reef2reef!

Fish Fan · Jul 8, 2024

Welcome to the Reef!

Sorry to hear about your shrimp. I'm sure someone would trade for her. I've never kept a Harlequin shrimp, but I believe I've read that they can sometimes be fed Chocolate Chip Stars. A little gruesome, but I think they freeze the Chocolate Chip Star, and then offer like one arm at a time to the Harlequin. If you have a local PetCo, you can likely find a Chocolate Chip Star. Good luck!

Ocean_Queenie · Jul 8, 2024

Hello & Welcome! So sorry about your shrimp

kiteboarderken · Jul 8, 2024

I have gotten a few chocolate chip stars, the small ones I will put in whole and the bigger ones I will cut off a leg and toss it in. There have been none available from any local aquarium shop for several weeks now.

Kristopher Conlin · Jul 8, 2024

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

I had a similar experience with a harlequin shrimp. It was absolutely one of the coolest inhabitants I have ever had in my tank. However once the asterinas were gone I gave it away to someone else who needed it.

I hope you can either find enough food or find someone else who has an asterinas problem that needs solving.

CO2TLEY · Jul 8, 2024

trim.7D4B7979-6CFD-4EF8-9C67-C9AE7D2AD665.gif

BubbleBuddy · Jul 8, 2024

Welcome aboard! Marine Warehouse Aquarium in Tampa normally stocks a variety of starfish. The Petco in Wesley Chapel carries chocolate chip starfish but they routinely shutdown the saltwater section so buyer beware.

There’s one local store in the Tampa area that occasionally has asterinas in their invert tanks. I was just there yesterday and saw several in with the BTAs (possible brooding infestation). Send me a direct message me and I’ll pass on the store info.

Brisk · Jul 8, 2024

Welcome!

zheka757 · Jul 8, 2024

Welcome to R2R! i got loads of them, but im about 1.5 hours down south from you

PharmrJohn · Jul 9, 2024

Fish Fan said:
Welcome to the Reef!

Sorry to hear about your shrimp. I'm sure someone would trade for her. I've never kept a Harlequin shrimp, but I believe I've read that they can sometimes be fed Chocolate Chip Stars. A little gruesome, but I think they freeze the Chocolate Chip Star, and then offer like one arm at a time to the Harlequin. If you have a local PetCo, you can likely find a Chocolate Chip Star. Good luck!

EXACTLY what I was gonna suggest. And don't think of it as you are killing a living creature, rather, you're keeping another alive. It is highly doubtful that the aiptasia is truly gone. I would keep your Harlequin and feed it what it needs. I may go this route myself with my upcoming build.