emerald crabs and pidtol shrimp.

[playa0069u]

1 pistol shrimp r reef safe correct?
and 2 how many people here would buy a red or green mithrax (emerald) crab from me for 2.99? I want to buy like a dozen to wipe out my hair bubble algae and the get rid of them all but 1.

 

[Gimplar]

where are you located in tampa? i will buy some if your not far

 

[playa0069u]

i am in holiday, but i go to tampa often. WELL I THINK I AM GOING TO GET RID OF THE ROCK WITH ALL OF THE BUBBLE ALGE INSTEAD, ANYONE WANT IT? IT IS SHORT AND FAT, AND KINDA HEAVY. I WILL GET IT ALL OFF AND TRADE IT FOR SOMETIHNG IF ANYBODY NEEDS SOME CHEAP LIVE ROCK. SORRY BOUT THE CAPS

 

[sinful]

I'll take a couple next time your in Tampa

 

[ReefArtist]

The pistol shrimp is reef safe - at least in my tank My Randall's Goby and the pistol have a Symbiotic relationship. This is so cool to watch, my yellow Goby first had the relationship with the pistol but he got kicked out of his area by the Randall's which is twice his size.
They love to dig, so make sure you put smaller rocks under the large ones so when the rocks shift everything doesn't come crashing down. The Goby will stand guard while the shrimp digs, when I would come near he would make this jerking movement and the shrimp would run for cover. The pistol would always have one antennae on the Goby when venturing out - which BTW is not very often.

 

[sinful]

that pair is probably 98% of the reason I bought my tank. Thats all I really want. Do you think I would need to have anything else in the tank to make them pair up? like something to need to be guarded from, if that makes sense?

 

[ReefArtist]

I think I know what you're saying (they don't need to have something to be afraid of to pair up). I'm not sure what happened between the Randall's and the Yellow Watchman because at first they seemed to be sharing the Pistol - I guess they just had a falling out. The Yellow Watchman and the shrimp I have were purchased as a pair from Fish and Other Ichthy Things in Oldsmar. They are far the best store around. I've spent hours with them, asking question after question and they have never once made me feel as though I was a bother. The place is very clean and I've never seen a dead fish in any of their tanks - and I'm always there first thing in the morning.
Here's a picture of the Watchman and the Pistol - they are sooooo cool:

 

[ReefArtist]

Oh, I forgot to mention - notice the antennae touching the Goby? That is just so cool to see. I do have to note that you don't see them real often out, but when you do it's always a joy for our whole family. It is the nights big event!

 

[sinful]

man that is awesome! that will definately be my first purchase. How much do they cost buying them already paired? and if you buy em seperate...is there a pretty good chance they will pair up?

 

[ReefArtist]

They were 15.00 for the Pistol Shrimp and the Yellow Watchman was 20.00, the Randall's Goby was 28.00. I think they cost the same together or separated - but don't quote me on that one. They are a little hard to come by paired up, but if you ask I'm sure the LFS will keep their eye's open for you. That's what I did and within a few weeks they had them in.

I think you would have a good chance, I've now had two take to the Pistol and all I had at the time were very passive fish (Flasher Wrasse, Firefish, and the other Goby). But I also know other reefers that had their
shrimp and goby share the burrow but did not have the Symbiotic relationship. Isn't this stuff fun?

 

[Aquatic Hamster]

Won't pistol shrimp kill fish? I've heard horror stories here in Largo.

 

[ReefArtist]

If they get real hungry - yes. But as always you have to choose your livestock wisely. I have a non-aggressive tank and the pistol is one of the inhabitants. It's housed with 3 different gobies, two clowns (Black ocellaris), McCosker’s Flasher Wrasse, 2 Yellow Wrasse and a ½ Black Mimic Tang. It has never bothered any of the fish or worms, snails etc. (feather dusters, Vermetid snails, Stomatellas etc). So I'm sure they might go after some very small fish but all my fish are larger and for the most part will always be, but you always must plan your tanks hardware and inhabitants. I think just having a reef tank you run the risk of something not getting along with something else. I spent months mapping out my inhabitants and so far everything is well. But I must say I spend hours in front of my tank each week, just watching and checking them out.

 

[ReefArtist]

Hi Chad - How's the refugium going, I saw your acrylic handy work very nice!

 

[ladyfsu]

I have 2 large pistol shrimp, and we'll be getting a couple of gobies the first week in January. I'll let you know how it goes!