Pistol Shrimp Question please weigh in!

[J4Life]

Ok I will get right to the point. How long will if ever it take for my tiger pistol shrimp to stopping burrowing all over my tank?

He is one active little booger!! Now the rest of the story.

Ok so a little less than two weeks ago I purchased a Tiger Pistol Shrimp and Randall's Shrimp Goby to add to my 75 gallon reef tank. I was aware that these little guys can make quite a bit of borrows but so far this guy has gone from one end of my tank to the other and my water continues to be a little cloudy. Thank goodness I have a protein skimmer on it otherwise it would be worse.

I just never thought that it would be this active. Regardless though I am happy with the purchase and addition to my tank.

If anyone can offer some insight I welcome it.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[J4Life]

Anybody got anything to contribute?? I am sure some have experience with these types of pairings that can offer some insight.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Tom@HaslettMI]

The short story... never.

But the intensity should subside once the shrimp is satisfied with its catacombs. Then there will just be maintenance and the occasional reset.

One word of caution: the shrimp may bury and/or move frags and small corals. Sometimes taking them into the burrow. Just don't be surprised when this happens.

Overall a great addition to a reef tank. I hope you enjoy your new addition.

Tom

 

[J4Life]

Thanks for the input. I am aware that he likes to steal things. I think it's sort of funny actually. Reminds me of how ferrits will take things and hide them.

Hopefully things will begin to settle down soon. He's running out of tank. Luckily I haven't had any major rock slides yet either.

I hope he will eventually work his way back to the front of thank because he started out there and then went along the back and sides and now I see little burrows being made up front again.

Then again who knows where he will finally settle in at.

 

[Flightpipe]

never stops period. Get a filter sock lol

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15598076#post15598076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flightpipe
never stops period. Get a filter sock lol

Thanks that was helpful!!! LOL! Seriously though I am sure more people have these guys. Come on need more input, must have input!!!!

Yeah!!!

 

[RealReef7]

I have 4 lrg pistols and I gotta tell ya that they are great, they keep the sand stirred up well and their colors are stunning (they even come out during feeding time.) ;D

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15604914#post15604914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RealReef7
I have 4 lrg pistols and I gotta tell ya that they are great, they keep the sand stirred up well and their colors are stunning (they even come out during feeding time.) ;D

That's cool but does your tank stay cloudy the entire time? So far mine has dug a new tunnel/hole everyday sine he has been put in there and it's starting to drive me a little nutty! My water was very clear until that little booger started doing his stuff.

I like having him and the shrimp goby and don't intend to get rid of him I just want to how long before he settles in and quits causing my water to cloud.

Thanks

 

[Flightpipe]

Thanks that was helpful!!! LOL! Seriously though I am sure more people have these guys. Come on need more input, must have input!!!!

Yeah!!!

Actually that was quite serious thanks.

I have a large tiger in my 75 and he has never stopped digging I find him under a new rock everyday. His favorite digging areas don't release too much fine sand (clouds) anymore because he has dug there so much over the life of my tank. (1.5 years of him being in there) The only way I have cut down on a cloudy tank is a good filter sock that takes it out of the water column. I doubt your skimmer does anything to keep it down btw. My filter sock clears the water within an hour once he gets going. The fine sand is not being taken out of your system so it is resettling to be stirred up again.

So when do I think your tank will stop being cloudy?
I think it will be that way until he stops digging (good luck)
You get a filter sock (they are cheap!)
Trade him in (again good luck finding him after you stir up the tank lol)
Pray for it to stop (stranger things have happened lol)

I also have a randall's pistol in my nano and I just washed out the sand about 10 times to remove the fine particles. The randalls digs all day without the clouds.

I hope that was serious enough for you, I guess the simple explanation wasn't.:lol:

 

[J4Life]

Flightpipe sorry if my response to your came off badly. I wasn't upset or anything and have actually been considering getting a filter sock to help as well. My skimmer actually removes quite a bit because it's a bit one for a 75 gallon tank.

I am sure it will settle down once he has stirred it all up. I have a very deep sand bed as much as 6 inches deep in some areas and all of my sand is the no longer found "Southdown" play sand. Plus the tank has been setup for close to 5 years with so lots of sediment in the sand.

Thanks for your help I do appreciate it.

 

[RealReef7]

I think if u use sand it will get foggy but Im using crushed coral so I couldnt tell you. I dont have a deep sand bed maybe 1-2 inch. He wont stop digging... pistol shrimps dig 95% of their time.. should of done some more research before purchasing?

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15612429#post15612429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RealReef7
I think if u use sand it will get foggy but Im using crushed coral so I couldnt tell you. I dont have a deep sand bed maybe 1-2 inch. He wont stop digging... pistol shrimps dig 95% of their time.. should of done some more research before purchasing?

Thanks for your advice I appreciate it. I did plenty of research and to be quite honest most everything on pistol shrimp information both on RC and the web never discussed at any length the amount to which they would burrow. Hence the reason for me asking my question.

I always research before I buy anything.

 

[zoadude]

I have had Tigers in about every tank I have had and every one of them was very active in the sand bed. That is their nature and the reason most pple get them, to keep the sand bed churned up.
There are many other pistol shrimp that are not as active as the Tiger. Maybe try and catch it and trade it in. It will probably never slow down in its burrowing and moving sand around.
Watch the Randals. They are notorious for jumping out of an open top tank.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15618656#post15618656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoadude
I have had Tigers in about every tank I have had and every one of them was very active in the sand bed. That is their nature and the reason most pple get them, to keep the sand bed churned up.
There are many other pistol shrimp that are not as active as the Tiger. Maybe try and catch it and trade it in. It will probably never slow down in its burrowing and moving sand around.
Watch the Randals. They are notorious for jumping out of an open top tank.

Thanks I am very happy with my purchase and the sand is finally settling down now. The skimmer and filter sock thanks to (realreef7) had helped considerably.

Looking forward to may years with both. Also I got eggcrate on the top to keep in jumpers.

 

[RealReef7]

Np man enjoy your pistol!

 

[lildraken]

How big is the Tiger? I just got a tiny one less than an inch long and he just stays hidden under a small rock. once in a while i'll see his antennae stick out but that's it.

 

[36and2]

My tiger pistol is always working. He has really helped get my sand cleaner looking and is interesting to watch. I hope yours works out for you!

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628066#post15628066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lildraken
How big is the Tiger? I just got a tiny one less than an inch long and he just stays hidden under a small rock. once in a while i'll see his antennae stick out but that's it.

Mine is fairly large for tiger pistol shrimps. He is somewhere between 2-1/2-3 inches maybe a bit bigger and he just molted yesterday. Things are calming down a bit now but he remains active. I see mine more because I have a shrimp goby that has paired up with him, you might look at getting one to pair with yours. It is one of the coolest things to see.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628408#post15628408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 36and2
My tiger pistol is always working. He has really helped get my sand cleaner looking and is interesting to watch. I hope yours works out for you!

Thanks 36and2. He is indeed working out quite nice now. I love seeing my randall's goby and him together. Very cool!!

 

[lildraken]

goby pair for tiger pistol

goby pair for tiger pistol

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15628625#post15628625 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J4Life
Mine is fairly large for tiger pistol shrimps. He is somewhere between 2-1/2-3 inches maybe a bit bigger and he just molted yesterday. Things are calming down a bit now but he remains active. I see mine more because I have a shrimp goby that has paired up with him, you might look at getting one to pair with yours. It is one of the coolest things to see.

Yes I asked my friend to pick up this tiger pistol shrimp for me while I was at work with the intention for it to pair up with my 5 in blue spotted watchman. I had no idea that the shrimp was going to be so tiny!
the tiger pistol has only come into contact with my diamond goby pair which I don't imagine they need a pistol shrimp because they do enough sand digging on their own. He hides from them.
i just hope that none of these gobies turn my shrimp into dinner since he's under 1 in.