Killer Pistol Shrimp!!

[bunzaroo]

My tank has been up and running 8 months now. I acquired what I believe is a Carribean Pistol Shrimp, Brown body light stripe along the back and blue legs, about 2 inches long when I originanly bought my live rock. I had always heard his "snapping" at night so my wife affectionately namem him "Pistolero" spanish for gunman. well about 4 months ago I started noticing my hermit crabs missing, about 5 or 6 of them, I figure they had just died, then 2 of my turbo snails end up dead. 1 week ago I hear some loud snapping I turn on the lights and i see Pistolero wailing on another one of my snails. He snapped 3 times on the 3rd time the snail goes up in the water column about 7 inches and lands. When she lands she i like a a boxer after a knockout her whole bofy is outside of the shell and she can't ge back in she just lays there for about 5 or 6 hrs she finally comes to but 2 hrs later she is dead!! I discover that this is happening when the snails get to close to Pistolero's tunnel entrance. I guess he just doesn't like any guests. What do you guys think?

 

[plateboy3293]

I have a tiger pistol with a goby and if any of my snails get to close they are taken to the burrow. But I always see the snails come out a few seconds later. If you want to get rid of it place a net with some food in by the entrance to the burrow with some line attached to pull the net up when he is in. I used this method before to feed my pistol and accidently took him out of the tank.

 

[mannyhernz]

i have the same problem now....my pistol grew into a murderer...he was ok until he grew...killed 2 hermit 2 gobies and a fire shrimp....nevertheless im keeping him.....(scared)

 

[Koshmar]

You think you have a pistol shrimp problem, I have a hermit problem! I've got two blue legged hermits that teamed up and killed six nassaruis snails in two nights! They ate them too. Crazy, they were fine before they molted but when they added a few millimeters to their length they went crazy! My guess is your shrimp molted and along with a size increase it got an ego increase.

 

[ihavtats29]

are you sure its a pistol shrimp and not a stamotopod? aka mantis shrimp? sounds like you have a smasher

 

[bunzaroo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14021382#post14021382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ihavtats29
are you sure its a pistol shrimp and not a stamotopod? aka mantis shrimp? sounds like you have a smasher

definately, a pistol I have seen him completely out and have seen him doing the dirty deed!!

 

[ihavtats29]

just checking , there are many nonreef safe pistols the come as hitch hikers on live rock, try spot feeding it keeping it well feed it mite not attack anything if its full

 

[Sk8r]

I have a tiger pistol who has come under my intense suspicion of doing in night-hiding fishes and 2 mithrax crabs, 3 peppermint shrimp, and 3 firefish. He's max size and certifiably a tiger. His commensal goby died and I am suspicious on that score too.