Sudden Harlequin Shrimp death
Hello,
I am totally astounded to why my harlequin died today in the afternoon when it was perfect and lively just in the morning. I have had my shrimp for about 2 months now, and I have fed it chocolate chip Seastars since the beginning. It already molted about a month ago, and I just gave it a new Seastar last week. (The shrimp took over a month to devour the first Seastar).
Since it molted, it has gotten huge, in my perspective, that it could actually almost lift and drag the starfish with him.  When I gave it the new starfish last week, the harlequin appeared from its hiding place, quickly turned the starfish over and started dragging it to the back of the tank. Within a couple days, the starfish was ripped to pieces. Just yesterday, the harlequin ripped out part of the leg and I could see the meaty white strings as the shrimp tried to pull the meat on top of a rock. Now today, it just died. All of a sudden died. My corals have been acting funny too.
<Oh oh>
My water parameters are just fine, but there was one thing that I think I might be able to blame it on. My powerhead temporarily shut off, and I had to fix it today. It is now running, but could this be the reason for my dead shrimp?
thank you,
Paul
<Mmm, perhaps the death, decomposition of the Seastar is a factor here... and may be a bit of the powerhead as well... These shrimp are very sensitive to water quality changes... Bob Fenner>