Pistol shrimp, which species?

[Zante]

I had a randall's pistol shrimp in my nano, with a pair of highfin gobies, unfortunately due to a house move they all died.

Now I'm planning my upgrade tank (5 feet 150 gallons) and I'm looking to get a mated pair of pistol shrimps and a mated pair of gobies.

I was thinking tiger pistols and yellow watchman gobies.

I have been reading about pistol shrimp eating fish, even their "flatmates". What is rumour and what is true? Should I go for a smaller pistol like a randall's again or will a tiger be fine?

I am also willing to listen to alternatives to the YWG, but keep in mind I want to stay as close to Fiji as possible, and I'm looking to have mostly small fish so to have an active and varied reef.

BTW, the tank's name will be Lister's paradise

 

[J2T]

I have three different pairs, two of which are with Tiger pistols (one YWG and one Randalli goby) and then a randalli pistol paired with a YWG. I have not had any issues with any pistols taking out anyone, let alone their goby.

IMO, while the randalli pistols are more colorful the tigers are a lot more active and visible. I rarely see the randalli's pistol so I prefer the tiger myself.

The YWG is a good choice, but if it were me in a larger tank I would go with the Randalli's goby (orange stripe prawn goby) or maybe even a Wheelers Goby. I would love to know how to pair up pistol shrimp as I have thought about it but can't find any information on it. Good luck

 

[Zante]

Hmm... you do have a point, they are more colourful.

Which would you say is more active and outgoing of the three?

Re: pairing the shrimps, I have no idea. I will have my LFS source an already formed pair for me. I am in no hurry to stock the tank, and I want it just so. It will take what it takes to find the pair, like the other pairs I am looking to get (coral banded shrimp, coral beauty and firefish)

 

[lostmyz]

I have and always love the tiger pistols. Because they are larger and if a fish that's on the fringe reef safe but not with inverts it will be safer than one of the smaller pistols. Just my opinion always have loved the tigers

 

[J2T]

Honestly its a tie between the two pairs with the tiger...though I will say the Randalli's goby is a bit less likely to dart down below and will sit more out in the open where as the YWG tends to hang right at the opening unless its feeding time.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

I have a ywg and tiger pair along with randalls and randalls. I see the tiger out more, like the other poster said the randall goby seems a bit less skittish but my YWG hangs out often in the open on a rock in front of his hole. Never had a shrimp kill his roommate I was a little worried when I first got the YWG as he was quite small like 1.25" while the tiger pistol was full grown but they got along fine.

J2 not sure how to pair pistols yourself, but divers den sometimes sells bonded pairs.

 

[Zante]

Ah, no. I am building a Fiji tank AND AFAIK randall's are not Fiji.

 

[J2T]

In that case doesn't that eliminate the YWG and randali's pistol as well?

 

[Zante]

I'm not getting the randall's pistol. Had one but unfortunately the tank crashed during a house move, so what was supposed to be an upgrade became an almost totally new tank.

I have another thread going asking for confirmation on the "fijiness" of my intended stock plan, because I wasn't able to find detailed info online
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2291414

 

[robotman]

I just added a pistol shrimp and a pink spotted goby, goby is out a lot and the pistol shrimp is yellow O_O, but he already excavated a huge portion under a large piece of base rock, and i see him pop out every 5-10 secs, unless they are hiding which only when i turn on the light they come out.