Pairing pistols

[aquadonkey]

Hi there. I'm thinking about getting a second pistol shrimp as a mate for my existing pistol.
Anyone have experience with this?
They have the cutest little baby pistol at CF.....

 

[aquadonkey]

Bump
I've been looking at some online articles and it looks like there's a good chance of pairing if you get a male and female.... but it's starting to sound a bit risky.

 

[aquadonkey]

Bumping this again folks....

 

[dreaminmel]

I wish I could help Lizz but have no experience with them. When you mentioned it sounding risky, did you read that they'd possibly fight?

 

[superkat]

if it is saying something about male/female...i am sure there is a pretty decent risk involved. This is similar to what is documented on mandarin behavior. I'm totally thankful for Brian at CF for taking the time to point out the body structure that indicates male or female...and now have two mandarins. Research, research, research.

 

[dreaminmel]

The reason I was asking about what she read is that I was curious if there were reports they'd fight. Since they are in the shrimp family I wouldn't have suspected it because most kinds of shrimp are fine together regardless of male/female.

 

[superkat]

so i'm hunting all over the net now trying to find out what the problem is with two pistols. Mel, have you come up with anything? Other than they need their own space....and maybe that's all it is.....?????

 

[sedorusc]

The reason I was asking about what she read is that I was curious if there were reports they'd fight. Since they are in the shrimp family I wouldn't have suspected it because most kinds of shrimp are fine together regardless of male/female.

I'd like to know as well and make mine a pair but I'd hate to have it be like two coral banded of the same sex

 

[block head]

i've played around bit matching pistols and gobies. it usually goes well or real bad. i'd try and buy a complete "set" if you want a pistol pair,goby pair,pistol /goby combo. i'd go the extra mile and buy them that way. DD sells them , or might get lucky and find a group locally.

 

[aquadonkey]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Blockhead - my problem is that I already have one pistol shrimp...
From what I've read, the shrimp will react to a same-sex shrimp by "driving it out of the burrow." Which in a 29g tank could get nasty.....
Interestingly enough, these shrimp are monogamous - primarily because when the male finds a good female match, he "gaurds" her until she is ready to mate.

 

[block head]

yep it's easy or one dies. if u have a red and and white candystripe i'll buy it.