pistol shrimp

[oceandweller99]

I have a randalls shrimp and goby and I wondered how they dig their burrows. The burrow they have goes under a large rock and comes out at the other side. I've never moved this rock byt whilst looking for a sexy shrimp today, I moved it (rocked it around but didn't lift up) and I don't know if this disturbance could have trapped the fish and shrimp inside. Will the shrimp just dig a way out? Could the goby suffocate or something?
Thanks in advance

 

[Calappidae]

Pistol shrimp use their pleopods to dig down to get on an angle... then once they have an angle they will be little bull-dozers and push out.. then they will dig out under the rock.. once they have full access underneath their home, they will slowly just dig to their liking. Gobies will thrash about to dig in the sand. part of the relationship is the pistol shrimp does the work for the goby. Could still make their lifes alot easier by helping them dig.... and don't get snapped at.. not sure what effects getting snapped at are but I did try to get my pistol shrimp to snap at things and it never did no matter what so I wouldn't be that scared to stick my finger in the burrow of a pistol shrimp... mantis is a different story... and I stick my finger in his burrow alot to clean it..

 

[greendougan]

I would think as long as you didn't crush them, then they should be able to dig themselves out.
Just a guess though.

 

[Calappidae]

I would think as long as you didn't crush them, then they should be able to dig themselves out.
Just a guess though.

I'd still help them as a precaution

 

[greendougan]

I'd still help them as a precaution

Absolutely. If you can, by all means try and see if you can move the rock to help.

 

[peasofme]

yep, i would free them and put the rock like it was.

 

[oceandweller99]

Thanks for all suggestions - they didn't come out for a couple of days but are out now. I will take your advice if it happens again