New Pistol Shrimp

[Runner]

I thought I would never put another pistol shrimp in my tank, but my son wanted one and the Coral Reef had a largish tiger pistol shrimp. So....

...I just added him not too long ago. He moved to a corner of the rock and started pushing some substrate around when my harlequin basslet came over and nipped him in the tail. He spun around with claws spread and waited. When the basslet dove in again, he *popped* in its face and drove it back. It was pretty cool. To interrupt the drama before one of them got hurt, I drove the shrimp back to the corner where my watchman gobie was hiding. I just spent about 30 minutes outside doing some yard work and the tank is a bit milky from all the digging around. The basslet continues to "hunt" the shrimp (and occasionally find him from all the pops I hear), but I don't think there is any death danger. I am rather enjoying this little drama.

 

[Engloid]

I bought a pistol shrimp a couple weeks ago. He seemed to be doing well, digging caves all around. He was getting along with the goby well also. He'd climb over the top of the goby if he had a tight area and couldn't get through, and the goby would just sit there.

but...I haven't seen him in about 5 days. I think he may be dead, because he was fairly active before that..

or do they do a few days of hibernation or something when they go into molt?

 

[Runner]

They can die when they molt -- particularly if there is something around that likes to eat them.

Mine has already paired up with my blue-spot watchman gobie. I thought these guys didn't get bigger than 4". The Coral Reef has one that is about 8" long and BIG (the gobie, not the shrimp). Never seen one get like that...

 

[Engloid]

All I have in the tank that could even get into the little caves to get him are hermit crabs. I also have the goby, and two clowns, but I don't think they would eat him. Maybe my luck is just bad and he died the first molt. When they go into molt, do they typically stay hidden for a few days, and then come back out?

 

[Runner]

Shrimp and goby are big pals now. But I forgot about the side effect of all this tunneling -- white dust stirred up and settling all over everything. I hope he works out all the dust before my patience gives out and I decide to feed him to the snake that lives in our garden.

:uzi::hmm1::hammer:

 

[Engloid]

still haven't seen my shrimp.

 

[Runner]

If he isn't digging or popping (or both), he probably is dead.

 

[Engloid]

I've got bad luck, I guess. I bought my shrimp and he probably lived about 2 weeks, and he's dead. Can't blame the store, as he did seem very healthy when I bought him. With my not finding a carcass, there'd be nothing to return anyway...and I think the stores only replace stuff for 7 days.

I've given up on my pistol shrimp. Anybody got one they want to get rid of? Otherwise, I'll wind up breaking down and going back to the LFS to get another one.

...or maybe a mail order group buy that I could snag one in?