pistol shrimp missing!

[Maquatics639]

Okay so yesterday I got a Randalls pistol shrimp from my lfs and I put him in and he swam to a pretty big hole in the rock, he then went inside and I havent seen him since. I have a randalls goby in the tank and im trying to pair them up. I have not seen any new burrows and the tank is doing quite fine at the moment. I also have an emerald crab which could maybe be a potential threat i guess?
I also put pellets in and no cigar there.... bummer to just see a shrimp disappear like that. I've read other forums and they usually dig a few burrows first.... this little guys ran for the hills!

 

[Calappidae]

I never seen my pistol shrimp for months.. then it just randomly jumped out.

 

[Maquatics639]

hope hes alive at least.....

 

[Calappidae]

Just watch out for any sand stirring up and listen for "clicking" noises. They never stop digging and building.. they do more then ants. Usually a cloudy tank is from a pistol shrimp if added in there

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

How long ago did you put him in? Mine was missing for a week or two and then I started to hear him. I'll bet yours is still alive. He's just being cautious in his new environment. Give him a couple weeks to settle in.

 

[Maquatics639]

Thanks, that makes me feel more comfortable because i've also been seeing peoples pistol shrimps making an appearance a week or two after introduction. I got him on the October 19th, just two days ago.

 

[MikeandNicole]

I've had them disappear for weeks and months at a time, especially in larger tanks.

 

[smtank]

Could just be molting.

 

[Calappidae]

Could just be molting.

They molt real fast unlike mantis shrimp. Usually 24 hours before the shell hardens.

 

[smtank]

They molt real fast unlike mantis shrimp. Usually 24 hours before the shell hardens.

That has not been my experience with Pistol shrimp, they were roughly in the borrow for 4-5 days.

 

[Calappidae]

That has not been my experience with Pistol shrimp, they were roughly in the borrow for 4-5 days.

IME thats just normal behavior. I've seen them molt before my own eyes. They shed their skin in a few minutes, then they hide as they will need atleast 24 hours to grow back a new shell. They may be reclusive for some time as inverts tend to forget who they are after a molt.

 

[Maquatics639]

Still no sign of him, but i will expect him to come out up to a few months now i guess..... gonna be hard to wait that long i kinda want to get my randalls goby and shrimp pair up soon.... bummer. Thanks for all of the help so far guys!

 

[Calappidae]

Still no sign of him, but i will expect him to come out up to a few months now i guess..... gonna be hard to wait that long i kinda want to get my randalls goby and shrimp pair up soon.... bummer. Thanks for all of the help so far guys!

This long?.. if possible.. try lifting up the rocks without disturbing too much and see if you can find anything..

Beware, not sure if getting shot it will hurt or anything... but don't find out and don't get shot at.

 

[smtank]

I would not move any rocks or mess with the tank to find a pistol shrimp, if he is there you will eventually hear it snapping, if it's dead it's dead. Only two outcomes and moving the rocks around will change neither.

 

[J2T]

I honestly wouldn't worry too much, my candy cane pistol and his YWG disappeared down in their tunnel for nearly a month and emerged as if nothing had happened. I rarely hear the candy cane pistol pop in comparison my tiger pistols (one in the 75g and one in a biocube) I hear popping constantly. Also it took the YWG and candy cane much longer (about 2 weeks) to find each other and pair up than it did for my tiger and Randall's goby who paired up within 10 minutes of being in the tank.

 

[saintsnsinners]

My pistols are always "missing". I never see them.

 

[Maquatics639]

Found him in a burrow! Now I await for him to meet my randalls goby... thanks for all the support guys!