Pistol Shrimp - 2 different gobies = 2 shrimp?

schnebbles

New member
I have a pink bar goby and a small high fin red banded goby that I just got last week.

I want randalls pistols for them. Can I have 2 safely? I hadn't seen the cute little high fin but I finally saw him today and he's on the opposite side of the tank as the pink bar.
 
I would speculate it depends on the size of the tank. I have a goby/pistol in my tank and they cover the entirety of the tank.
 
LOL I usually see fresh sand mounds, that is how I know they are still there. I might actually see mine once every few months.
 
I haven't seen my Pistol Shrimp in my 150 G for nearly a year. But I still hear the random snaps every once in a while.

I've seen pictures of them from the wild with like three Gobies and two Shrimp all sharing one burrow. I know Gobies are mostly hermaphrodite, but I think Pistol Shrimps are single-sex, so getting Shrimps to mate might be a bit more of a challenge.

As long as your tank is large enough (at least 10 gallons, 20+ would be better) so that they can establish separate territories if needed, I think they'll be fine. Randall's Pistols are much more chill than Tiger Pistols--I wouldn't try more than one Tiger in anything smaller than 40 G.
 
No problem at all with Cleaner Shrimp. In my 40 Breeder, I keep two High-fin Gobies, one Yasha, two Randall's, a pair of Fire Shrimp, pair of Scarlet Cleaners and a bunch of Peppermints. And three Seahorses and some other small peaceful fish. All get along well.
 
I haven't seen my pistol shrimp in 8 months, I still hear him every day but never seen him.
Yellow watchman goby I see, shy as hell though.
 
Should I not waste the $$? I thought I'd mostly just get them to pair with the gobies.

I wish I'd have ordered 2 high finned gobies, they are really cute.
 
Should I not waste the $$? I thought I'd mostly just get them to pair with the gobies.

I wish I'd have ordered 2 high finned gobies, they are really cute.

up to you - I dropped in a new candy shrimp yesterday and the only way I know he is doing well is I see a new cave. I don't expect to see him again lol.
 
For some reason I feel like the gobies might be happier with them. LA has pom pom crabs back in and I'm dying for a couple of those too.
 
For some reason I feel like the gobies might be happier with them. LA has pom pom crabs back in and I'm dying for a couple of those too.

not sure but if that pom pom goes down the wrong hole he is going to get a 4700 C degree snap

I lost a peppermint shrimp and emerald crab- I blamed it on my candy pistol, but honestly I am news and could have been bad husbandry or just their time.

I went in this weekend to get a goby, and asked if my quarter size emerald crab would bother it and they upsold me another pistol shrimp as body guard.
 
Good combo, the tiger pistol and yellow watchmen goby pair add a lot of enjoyment to our tank.

They've taken up residence under a large rock on the left side of the tank, we see the shrimp a few times every week actually. They often go on adventures to the right side of the tank...dig a bit then return home.

No issues with the cleaner shrimp and pistol shrimp. They often both hang outside the main burrow entrance while the goby gets cleaned.
 
You won't see your pistol shrimp a ton, but its relationship with a goby and its constant sand architectural works are worth it. Mine built an archway leading to its burrow one day. I was amazed. You'll see it enough, and part of the attraction/allure/interest of having one in your tank is its cryptic nature.

You can also train it to come out by spot feeding it. Good luck.
 
I use to have 2 tiger pistols in my 75g, one paired with a Randal's goby and the other with a YWG. Lost the tiger that was paired with the Randal's goby and haven't gotten him another yet...however I see my other tiger with the YWG all the time, neither are shy in the least. And aside from some dwarf cerith snails the pistol hasn't bothered a single inhabitant. Personally I always want to have at least one pair in my tank because I think they are really enjoyable to watch.
 
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