Caution on pistol shrimp with burrowing fishes:

[Sk8r]

Had a very bad result with a tiger pistol/YWG combo...
Fine and fun until the second year, when the shrimp had grown.
First he killed his YWG...didn't realize it at the time. Thought it was age, but he died with a red spot.
Lost a highfin goby...not observed, which burrows.
Lost a pearly jawfish...not observed, which burrows.
Lost two firefish, which den in burrows at night. Again, died with red spot.

Second firefish, I figured it out. Same body position on the red spot, and same pattern of death: didn't die immediately, but (probably due to internal rupture or organ damage) dead in a day or two.

I finally took my reef apart to get that rascal of a shrimp out.

After his removal, no more mysterious red-spot deaths of burrowing fishes. Period.

Be warned.

 

[neoh]

I'll be sure to not to allow any of my invertebrates to carry weapons.


Joking aside, I'll keep that in mind, as I have a ywg/pistol combo currently on hold.

 

[HumbleFish]

Seems like all crustaceans turn nasty as they get bigger. Sucks.

 

[kyocera]

I've been trying to catch one in a bottle trap for that last couple of days. No luck.

 

[agetr]

i had a pistol that took a chunk out of my melanurus wrasse.

 

[Sk8r]

IMHO, in the wide ocean, things drift on as change happens, but in our tanks, they're kinda stuck with one another...goes-round keeps coming-round, and things grow big and cranky. I personally don't think it's a good thing to encourage new hobbyists to keep, neat as the partnership can be to observe for a while. I do think it's important while reporting this to be very specific about which species caused trouble, and right now, pretty as they are, tiger pistols are off my 'friendly' list.

 

[Fishypapa]

Totally agree...in an ocean reef species can move to a completely different part if they're threatened in one but in our tanks, they're stuck and COMPLETELY dependent on humans for their food and safety (well most).

I originally considering a pistol and goby but decided on just the goby. I already have 2 peppermint shrimp and getting a cleaner so that's really all I need for my 37 gallon.

 

[kismetsh]

I do agree that it is important to emphasize that you are talking about a TIGER pistol. I did not consider a tiger for my tank as I am fairly risk averse when it comes to my tank critters.

I have a yasha/Randall's pistol pair that I enjoy immensely. They stay smaller and I am comfortable with mine, though I do have to admit I get a bit nervous when I see my pom pom venture close to the burrow opening.

 

[pktech]

Had a very bad result with a tiger pistol/YWG combo...
Fine and fun until the second year, when the shrimp had grown.
First he killed his YWG...didn't realize it at the time. Thought it was age, but he died with a red spot.
Lost a highfin goby...not observed, which burrows.
Lost a pearly jawfish...not observed, which burrows.
Lost two firefish, which den in burrows at night. Again, died with red spot.

Second firefish, I figured it out. Same body position on the red spot, and same pattern of death: didn't die immediately, but (probably due to internal rupture or organ damage) dead in a day or two.

I finally took my reef apart to get that rascal of a shrimp out.

After his removal, no more mysterious red-spot deaths of burrowing fishes. Period.

Be warned.

LOL - I'm wondering if my reef lobster is making certain individuals disappear as well.

 

[namxas]

Most likely...lobsters are bad about that.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

How big was the tiger pistol,mine is about three years old is only about a 1'' long.

 

[Sk8r]

Mine was about an inch and a quarter, inch and a half. We were beginning to make jokes he was headed for lobster, because he was certainly larger than when we'd bought him. And then the watchman died...
and the others died...

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I will keep an eye on him,so far no problems.

 

[Sk8r]

I suspect (re the thread on My Mandarin Dropped Dead) that we may have another victim in the Pistol Shrimp Mystery Cases...there was a randalli present.

 

[larcomak11]

Damn that's a shame, I was about to pull the trigger on a ywg and pistol pair but I guess I'll have to do some more thinking :/