I want a Pistol Shrimp

[Tennyson]

I have a 46 gallon tank FULL of shrimp, I want to complete my collection of shrimp with a Tiger Pistol shrimp, but I'm afraid it will pose a threat to my other shrimp. The shrimp I have are:

1. Sexy Shrimp X2 and I plan to get many more
2. Harlequin shrimp. I plan to get a male for her
3. Coral Banded Shrimp
4. Skunk Cleaner Shrimp X2
5. Fire Shrimp
6. Peppermint Shrimp X2
7. Anemone Shrimp X2
8. Urocaridella Anemone Shrimp X2
I think there are a couple more, I just can't think of them all.

Would it harm any of these? I think my sexy shrimp would be the only ones most in danger.
I want to get the smallest pistol I can find, my LFS has them just an inch long, would those be able to harm sexy shrimp equal to its size until it grows?

And I also was wondering if it would pair with my large Diamond Watchman Goby or possibly my Jawfish?

thanks, all replies are appreciated.

 

[mikchabe]

Pistol Shrimp aren't really aggresive and will not seek out other shrimps to attack, but it will likely defend its burrow if another shrimp gets too close.

Your smaller shrimp (Sexy Shrimp and Anemone Shrimp) will be most at risk. However if your anemones are not close to the Pistol Shrimp's burrow, then the risk will be lower.

The pistol shrimp will probably pair with the Diamond Goby, but not a Jawfish.

I have a small Pistol Shrimp (1") with a pair of small Golden Coral Banded Shrimps (2"), and have not had any problems.

I hope this helps.

 

[Tennyson]

Hmm, ok. My anemone shrimp are kind of everywhere since they don't host anemonies and my sexy shrimp hang out on every one of my corals.
Perhaps I should consider getting a Sand Anemone especially for them, or whatever anemone they will host, ill ask in a different thread-so they'll be safer, I think that should take care of the problem, unless...a pistol will attack them in an anemone, would it? Will they be safe in an anemone?

How big do Tiger Pistol's get? I think if their maximum size was 2", then my anemone shrimp would be ok since they're pretty big, 2" too.
And how loud is their pistol sound making thing from their claw? My tank's right next to my bed in my room, and I wouldn't want to hear loud snaps at night when I'm sleeping. Is it really that noticeable? Can it shatter glass or anything?

 

[sd_schoppert]

I have 4 tiger pistols and when they pop it sounds like a penny droped onto glass. Its not too loud and they dont do it too much at least for me.

 

[Tennyson]

OK, I think I'll get the smallest one I can find saturday. Thanks for all the info. I'll update later when I get one. Thanks!

 

[Tennyson]

I haven't found any yet, of the tiger pistols.

But at the LFS, I saw the most beautiful pistol shrimp. It was this one on this link, or very very similar:
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=2&pid=1221&cid=84

Candy Stripe Pistol Shrimp. I wanted to get it sooo bad, but bought a sea hare which is what I came for.

It was $25. And was just barely an inch long. maybe 3/4 inches.
I was just wondering if a pistol shrimp that small would survive? I have sexy shrimp that were the same size in teh tank too.

 

[StephenInVa]

The sexies I have took right to a flower anemone.

 

[Eklikewhoa]

I have multiple pistols with my blood fire shrimp, skunk cleaner, sea hare and never had any problems.

 

[Guygettnby]

i have a zebra pistol shrimp that is maybe 1/2in if that in my 24g aquapod and he is doing fine. i wish i could get to him to remove him though...lol... if i ever get him out you are welcome to it if you like. free of charge just take him off my hands.

 

[Tennyson]

oh cool. Will it get any bigger than 1/2 an inch?

Oh, and can multiple pistol's be kept in a 46 gall like 2 or 3? I like all of their different colored species. Or will they all kill eachother until one is left?

 

[Guygettnby]

i am sure it will. it hitched in on a piece of coral i got. it has gotten twice the size it was when i got it and is very active. but he likes to hide under the biggest rock in the tank that is supporting other rocks.

i also have a caribean pistol shrimp that lives with my peacock mantis that i will be getting rid of here shortly as well. i put him in there as food and he managed to survive and get pretty big.

 

[Tennyson]

I got a Pistol Shrimp!!!
Surprisingly, the same one at the store a week ago was still there so I bought it. Its an inch long.

a pic:

I want it to pair up with my diamond watchman goby, so i released it right at it's burrow. But instead, the shrimp ran around the rocks and is now in this hole in the rock right above the gobie's burrow.

And he's a chiken, he keeps hiding in that cave, and is afraid of the watchman goby, which is like 5 times bigger than it.
So my question is, will it ever pair up with the goby?
Its been a day since it's been in the tank about.

 

[mhills16]

i just bought one too and it didnt pair with my watchman either, the first night they used the same burrow, then the next day the goby was at the other end of the tank, may be one day they will match up and stay together?

 

[Everyones Hero]

Hey, cool to find 2 other reefers in MD.

I'm about to get a Pistol to mix up my sandbed.

From what I've read it's hit or miss with the Pistols hooking up with the Watchmans.

 

[LeslieH]

It depends what species of pistol shrimp you get. There are hundreds of species some of which are so similar in appearance only an expert can tell them apart even though their behavior is different. The candy stripe is belongs to the Alpheus randalli complex. Many of the goby-symbionts will only pair with one or two species of goby but A. randalli will pair with many different species.

Normally it's the goby who finds the shrimp so give them time. Once the shrimp has excavated a burrow the goby should show some interest in it.

 

[Tennyson]

Oh...I don't know then...that pistol shrimp looks pretty cozy in that rock, I think it's made it's home there, atleast until it gets bigger and can't fit.

Any suggestions on what I should do besides wait a couple months for it to outgrow that rock?
It's right above the gobie's home, and is afraid to come out, and of the goby, so I don't know what to do.
It is eating alot though, but its hard to get the food in that tiny crack so it can get it.
And I heard it's little snap, it was trying to kill an emerald crab that was coming too near, but it had no effect, it's too tiny haha. But it's doing well other than that.

 

[flipcyd]

Pistol shrimp and gobies take time to pair up. Mine took about 10 day to find each other and pair up. I've got a small tiger and a small yellow watchman, along with 7 peppermints and 2 skunk cleaners.

 

[b_newman]

I got a pistol shrimp a few months ago and it was the worst purchase by far. It always moves sand around everywhere and its "snap" wakes me up at night. I've posted a few questions about how to get rid of it, but no luck. I hope you don't have the same problems.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13221945#post13221945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flipcyd
Pistol shrimp and gobies take time to pair up. Mine took about 10 day to find each other and pair up. I've got a small tiger and a small yellow watchman, along with 7 peppermints and 2 skunk cleaners.

Mine took less than an hour to pair up. Had the pistol shrimp first. I added a black ray goby and as soon as he saw the pistol shrimp borrow (the pistol shrimp was poking his head out at the time), he swam right in. They've been inseperable ever since. My tank is on my night stand and the pistol does click during the night, but otherwise he is so fascinating to watch, I think it's worth it. IMO any reef tank without a pistol shrimp is missing out.

 

[Tennyson]

How big is your shrimp yousmellsfishy?
You have the same kind.

And I don't think they will pair up fora while, because the shrimp has already made it's home in a rock which is too small anyway for the goby to fit into. Any suggestions on what I can do?
And it's so annoying to feed it because it's hole is like under a bunch of rocks on the bottom, and it won't come out for food.