Goby/Pistol Shrimp substrate

[Green_Reefer]

I have a 1/2 - 1" sand bed in my tank right now and have a yashia goby and candy cane pistol shrimp on the way. I have an area of my tank designated for their burrow but am not 100% sure on how deep I need to make the sand bed for them or what is the best type of substrate to use.

My current substrate is .1-1mm in size and I have a bag of 1-2mm sand as well as a bag of crushed coral to use. Which substrate (or combo of substrates) would be best for them and how deep should I make it? I will have rubble and some shells in the area for them as well.

The two animals are not a pair, should I introduce the pistol to the DT right away and the goby after it's QT period, or place them both in QT together? The QT will have a tupperware container for the burrow in case anyone's wondering.

Thanks

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

No need to QT the shrimp, the two should be able to find each other when the QT period is up for the yasha. Just be sure to release it where the pistol has set up it's burrow.

As far as substrate goes, the pistol will appreciate different size grains. Add a bit of crushed coral to the area near it's burrow and it will use it to construct an entrance. Pretty cool actually. Mine uses empty snail shells as well. You can see in this pic how it has used shells and a piece of plastic clip that had broken of my Tunze PH holder.

 

[jhentr]

+1 above. Make sure to all various sizes from sugar grain to crush coral to rock rubble since it'll all be utilized by the shrimp. You'll be surprised by how strong they are dragging a rock 2-3 times their size. Make sure your rockwork around that area is secure too as they'll be making tunnel mazes underneath it.

 

[Green_Reefer]

Thanks for the replies. All my rockwork is on eggcrate at the bottom.

How deep should it be? Only a small ~10"x10" area in a front corner of the tank will have a deeper sand bed for the pair, the rest of the tank will stay at 1/2-1".