Dang Pistol Shrimp!!!!!

[Skipper]

A couple of days ago I bought a new zoanthid rock and added it to my tank. I placed it about 1/3 up in the tank on the rockwork. It had about 60 polyps of Green Bay Packer and Dragon Eye zoanthids on it. Beautiful piece!!

So yesterday, I come home from work and noticed that about half the polyps are missing. This morning I check the tank and the rock (about 5") is blocking the pistol shrimp's hole on the sand. Of course, I move the rock back to its original spot and find there's only about 8 or 10 polyps left!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR!! Never thought a pistol shrimp would eat zoanthids. Maybe he cut them off and is using them somewhere in his tunnel to patch holes or something.

Anyone had an experience like this?

 

[buckeyegirl]

I hope this isn't typical of Pistols! Just bought one a couple days ago for my Yashia - I hought they were peaceful. Maybe yours was thanking you for the new rock you gave him by getting rid of those nasty zoa's that were all over it

 

[palawan]

Maybe it's not the pistol shrimp. Could be a eunicid worm hiding in your tank.

 

[Skipper]

I would think that since the rock is so large, and the fact that it was moved from up high down to the entrance of the shrimp's burrow (with all the polyps facing inside toward the shrimp's tunnel) that it would not be a worm. How would a worm move the rock and position it like that?

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Hey Skipper, turn up your volume and click play " If you feel lucky...........well..........do yah?"

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/62380/detail/


Dirty Harry

 

[Skipper]

Cool video! I knew they preyed on other shrimps, which is why I don't have any cleaners in this tank.

Additionally, I added a very large zoanthid rock about a month ago (10" long x 5") and I kept noticing it being moved off of its ledge. However, no polyps seem to be disappearing. It must be that the shrimp will not eat or pick them off unless he has the rock right by his tunnel.

 

[650-IS350]

Well when I had my 100gal. I had a Dozen pistols in there ( NO KIDDING ) THats when I had my large collection... they never bother my collection.. most they would do is slightly bury a small frag near their home during their excavations....

Im more going with the ENUNIC worm idea... these can decimate corals big time.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Mine only gets me when I'm near his cave forgeting every time that he's there, until... snap... right on my nuckle! Never bothered a single zoanthid & I have 2 in there.

 

[Guygettnby]

my buddy had a pistol shrimp kill some of his zoas as well. after he moved the rest of them to a different spot they were fine. the pistol also destroyed a small frag of GSP. i on the other hand have never had a problem with any of the ones i have owned in the past.

my buddy makes sure he doesnt put any coral near the pistol shrimps bury now and he hasnt had any more problems.

 

[650-IS350]

Im wondering if those were regular brownish or Tan type pistols?

 

[Skipper]

Mine is a dark brown and pretty large (about 2-2 1/2").

Guess what? More zoos are missing this morning on my big rock. I'm going to move this rock into my main display and catch this sucker!!!

 

[Skipper]

It's odd that this rock has been in there for over a month and no zoos were bothered.

When the halides come on, I'll take a picture.

 

[puckbs]

my pistol likes to use my monti cap frags as doors...but no reason to believe he ever affected my zoas

 

[650-IS350]

I doubt you'd have issues with the Yasha type pistols, but could with the larger brown or Tan????

 

[Skipper]

Lousy picture, but the middle of the picture shows the area affected:

 

[livingcorals]

I did not think Pistols leave the sand bed much....

 

[Guygettnby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14290534#post14290534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
Im wondering if those were regular brownish or Tan type pistols?

my friends pistol is a tiger and it is around 2 inchs.

 

[650-IS350]

There are the brown tiger types too...
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=747+2663+1148&pcatid=1148

I wonder if there's a difference in the caribbeane, japanese, baja , yasha and other type shrimps.

The ones I had were brown tigers like the ones I have used for refrence.

 

[Guygettnby]

i dont know if there is a real difference. i havent had any problems from any of mine and i was very shocked when i saw his destroying his zoas and GSP. but since he has moved all corals away from the burrow he hasnt had anymore problems as far as i know.

i was thinking about puting 1 in my new tank but i am scared after seeing what his did. i have too many frags and such on the sand.

 

[650-IS350]

I'm thinking its more of the pistol not wanting the polyps growing near his borrow. More kinda like clearing the fields.