• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
        • Premium Brine Shrimp Eggs
        • Magnetic Brine Shrimp Eggs
      • Most Popular Products
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $229
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99 – $209
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $250
          Shop Now
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $79
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $99
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $70
          Shop Now
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit™

          $66
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Notify Me When in Stock This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ultimate EcoPack

          $100
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit™

          $66
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Notify Me When in Stock This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ultimate EcoPack

          $100
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Blog
  • Shipping
  • Our Guarantee
  • Help
  • Deals
  • Sign In
  • Cart
You are here: Home / Captive Bred Fish & Inverts / Harlequin Shrimp
A photo of a Captive Bred Harlequin Shrimp Hymenocera elegans by aquatic technology on a black background for sale at AlgaeBarn
A photo of a pair of Captive Bred Harlequin Shrimp Hymenocera elegans by aquatic technology on a black background for sale at AlgaeBarn
No reviews

Harlequin Shrimp

  • LIVE SEED AND FEED - EXPRESS
  • Shipping Days
    Mon, Tue, Wed
  • Free 2 Days
    Transport at $99+

$35 – $70

Captive Bred Harlequin Shrimp make a beautiful and hardy addition to any reef aquarium. See below for more information.

Clear

Select Size

Earn up to 70 PodPoints.

Quantity

Save with Subscription:

Total:

$0

Saved

-

Benefits

Clear Asterina from Tank

Harlequin Shrimp are known by Reef Aquarists for their insatiable appetite for starfish. They methodically move through the tank and consume asterina starfish.

Beautiful Colors & Fun to Watch

Harlequin Shrimp, "dance" while moving and display their beautiful blues and purple spots.

Clean Up Crew

Our Harlequin Shrimp are Captive-bred and Sustainable carnivores that eat a variety of starfish. They methodically move through the tank, clearing all starfish from their path.
  • Description
  • FAQ

Description

Harlequin Shrimp (Hymenocera elegans) Captive Bred Aquatic Technology™

Harlequin shrimp are best know for their surreal beauty and vibrant pattern. They are also know for their tendency to hunt, capture, and consume live starfish. We feed our harlequin shrimp either chocolate chip or sand-sifting starfish that are available locally at your favorite LFS or for sale online. Even though live starfish are generally required for successful care, a pair of shrimp will only consume about 1 starfish per month on average, making proper feeding relatively easy and affordable. These little guys will certainly make for an interesting and unique conversation starter in your tank!

Size and Care Requirements:

  • Purchase Size:
    • Small: 0.5″-1″,
    • Medium: 1″-1.4″,
    • Large: 1.5″+,
    • M/F Pair: small male + medium/ large female
  • Max Size: 1.5″
  • Water Parameters: 72-78° F, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025, dKH 8-12
  • Color: White with blue markings.
  • Reef Safe: With caution. Will eat starfish.
  • Diet: Live starfish or starfish chunks. Harlequin shrimp will consume most species of starfish. We recommend either chocolate chip starfish or sand sifting starfish because they are inexpensive and readily available at most Local Fish Stores. There are few common methods one can use when offering live starfish to harlequin shrimp:

How to Feed Harlequin Shrimp:

1.The entire live starfish is added into the display tank with the shrimp where they will quickly find it and begin to consume it. It should be noted, however that if a non-reef-safe species of starfish is being offered, care should be taken to ensure that the starfish is not able to consume any corals.
2. The live starfish is kept separately in the sump or quarantine tank. When the shrimp are hungry, the aquarist should remove one leg from the starfish and offer it to the shrimp. You can also try freezing the entire starfish and then defrosting pieces as needed.

Special Shipping Requirements: This item requires a UPS shipping options (Select 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air at checkout). Failure to select a UPS shipping option at checkout will delay and complicate your order. 

100% Alive On Arrival (AOA) Guarantee for Captive Bred Harlequin Shrimp

We guarantee that every snail we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should they arrive in any other state, we will either replace them free of charge (including shipping). If the total livestock loss is less than $20, we will issue store credit. For more information, please visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page.

The harlequin shrimp with bred in captivity by Aquatic Technology™. In addition to captive bred fish, they also produce many species of captive bred marine invertebrates. If you would like more information about how Harlequin Shrimp are bred and raised in captivity, please click here to visit their website.

FAQ

Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 2 × 2 × 2 in
Size

Small, Medium, Large, Pair

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
Write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

Latest News from the AlgaeLab

Our team is hard at work studying how marine ecosystems behave so that you can build your tank with the perfect components!

PNS Deep Cycle

Harnessing the Power of PNS Deep Cycle for a Thriving Reef Aquarium

Reef aquariums are a testament to the beauty and complexity of marine ecosystems. Yet, one fundamental difference sets them apart from natural coral

Read More about Harnessing the Power of PNS Deep Cycle for a Thriving Reef Aquarium

How hard is it to keep a refugium?

Adding a refugium to the reef tank system can be a game changer for some reef keepers! Most experienced hobbyists agree that a refugiums’ natural

Read More about How hard is it to keep a refugium?

Keeping the Gigas Clam

There is something almost archetypal in the legend of man-eating clams. Perhaps this evokes allegorical imagery of a greedy or overly plucky sort of fool

Read More about Keeping the Gigas Clam

More Great Products

  • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

    Peppermint Shrimp

    $49 – $119
    Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • 10 Cerith Snails

    Cerith Snail

    $25 – $79
    Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Tisbee Pods & OceanMagik

    $45
    Shop Now
  • The Gigas Clam from ORA, Truly a Giant!

    ORA Gigas Clam

    $540
    Shop Now

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2025, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton