A brief introduction -
I've been keeping freshwater aquariums since I was 9, when I brought home my first goldfish from the local carnival (I'm 30). 6 months ago, we converted our 50 gal. freshwater tank to a saltwater tank. I did lots of research in advance, as far as equipment, maintenance and fish compatibility.
As in my freshwater experience, I try to choose community fish, since I would prefer to keep a variety of species, rather than one particularly aggressive fish. I also try to select my fish based on their natural habitats within the tank, i.e. open water swimmers, detritus scavengers, cave-dwellers, etc.
Along those lines, we recently added a Yellow Watchman Goby, partly because of his color and also because of his love for crevices in the live rock. I've read at great length about the relationship between gobies and pistol shrimp, so I set out to find a pistol shrimp for my goby. This brings me to my two questions:
1. If I get a pistol shrimp, will he get along with my cleaner shrimp (who happens to hang out on the opposite side of the tank than the goby, if that means anything)?
2. My LFS warned that pistol shrimp can destroy tanks and kill other fish. In my research of pistol shrimps, I knew they *could* do this, but I've also read about the many happy pairings of gobies and pistol shrimp that I didn't think it would be an issue in a passive community tank. Are there any pistol shrimp owners out there who could weigh in on this?
Thanks a ton in advance!!!
I've been keeping freshwater aquariums since I was 9, when I brought home my first goldfish from the local carnival (I'm 30). 6 months ago, we converted our 50 gal. freshwater tank to a saltwater tank. I did lots of research in advance, as far as equipment, maintenance and fish compatibility.
As in my freshwater experience, I try to choose community fish, since I would prefer to keep a variety of species, rather than one particularly aggressive fish. I also try to select my fish based on their natural habitats within the tank, i.e. open water swimmers, detritus scavengers, cave-dwellers, etc.
Along those lines, we recently added a Yellow Watchman Goby, partly because of his color and also because of his love for crevices in the live rock. I've read at great length about the relationship between gobies and pistol shrimp, so I set out to find a pistol shrimp for my goby. This brings me to my two questions:
1. If I get a pistol shrimp, will he get along with my cleaner shrimp (who happens to hang out on the opposite side of the tank than the goby, if that means anything)?
2. My LFS warned that pistol shrimp can destroy tanks and kill other fish. In my research of pistol shrimps, I knew they *could* do this, but I've also read about the many happy pairings of gobies and pistol shrimp that I didn't think it would be an issue in a passive community tank. Are there any pistol shrimp owners out there who could weigh in on this?
Thanks a ton in advance!!!