Goby and Pistol Shrimp pairs keep dying.

borillion_star

New member
So its been a while since I have had many fish and I would like to try a pistol shrimp and goby pair again,
but I have had the issue in the past where collapse of the sand killed them off, are there any solutions to work around this?
 
I have always used a larger sized substrate with a mix of sizes. You will also need some rubble which the shrimp will use to stabilize the tunnels. Old hermit crab shells and snail shells work as well as smashed up rock.
Myles
 
I think I have similar to this but its mostly oolite I believe its called, I bought this as a torn down tank and have had it for a year. It came with the sand and live rock.
I haven't tried a pair in here yet.
https://www.amazon.com/Carib-Sea-ACS00940-Aquarium-40-Pound/dp/B000YJMYPG/

I was looking at things like these to add in and make it a bit more coarse, dunno if we are allowed to post direct links to Amazon, hopefully won't get in trouble for it.
https://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Arag-Alive-Natural-Aquarium-Gravel/dp/B00C5H0CI6/
https://www.amazon.com/Carib-Sea-ACS00150-Aquarium-40-Pound/dp/B003SNRB7G/

These seem more interesting but are also a bit iffy LOL.
https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Aquariums-Terrariums-Landscaping-Bio-Filtration/dp/B083W5TT4Z/

Though this one is awesome I think.
https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Aquariums-Terrariums-Landscaping-Bio-Filtration/dp/B0872GHZ7V/
 
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I am just guessing from the pictures. The top link looks like it would be too fine a grade, the second and third link look very good, and I would throw in the 4th and/or 5th link to add some rubble and larger sizes.
I forgot to mention that you should put in your rockwork first so that it sits directly on the bottom of the tank and then add the sand so that rocks don't collapse when the shrimp digs.
Myles
 
So its been a while since I have had many fish and I would like to try a pistol shrimp and goby pair again,
but I have had the issue in the past where collapse of the sand killed them off, are there any solutions to work around this?

That seems odd. I have watched a sand tunnel collapse on a goby and shrimp and they just dig themselves right out. Normally they will dig a cave under rocks so this isn't an issue either way. Mine have tunnels everywhere like ants. Are you sure that's what happened or did they die of something else? They definitely like having rubble to stuff in holes to block their caves off. Unless a rock was balanced wierdly on the sand bed and the rock fell on to them and crushed them I can't see this being an issue.
 
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