Pistol shrimp?

[Guygettnby]

how many of you actualy keep pistol shrimps in your tanks? i finally bought my first 1 yesterday and am so happy with the purchase. luckly it decided to take up residence right in the front corner of my tank. my yellow watchman goby took right to it, like it knew exactly what it was and now they both share the same cave work!

do all pistol shrimp work with all gobies or is there a certain type of goby to pistol shrimp chart out there?

 

[chrisstie]

I have one in nearly every tank (and soon to be all when I find a Randalls)

I think there is a higher probability of some shrimps pairing with some gobies, but I think it depends on the individuals involved, too. Also, there are some pistols that aren't commensal with gobies so it kind of depends.

Typically your randalls, tiger, etc will pair up just fine.

I had one of the carribean ones pair up with my YWGs but then I had the same species in a different tank go after everything to eat so he has his own tank now with some exotic looking hermits that probably aren't reef safe. It was a cool move on our part, in a smaller nano we get to see him all the time

 

[dzeadow]

what do pistol shrimp eat? If I get a pair of Stonogobiops nematodes w/ a randall's, should I fear that my clean up crew will come up missing piece by piece day by day? Sorry to hijack, just curious.

 

[gumby007]

I have never had any problems with my Yellow Watchman with my Alpheus randalli. Never bother anything but a few pods I'm sure.

 

[mamagoose45]

My pistol goes after about any type of food I put in the tank - frozen, flake, pellets. He tastes them all. I've never seen him go after anything in the tank (sexy shrimp, gobies, clean up crew...) so I wouldn't stress too much over that. I don't doubt that there are renegade pistols out there though...

As far as being happy that he's taken up residence right in the front of the tank, good luck having him stay there. Mine moves ALL over the tank. In a five minute time period of watching the tank, I'm likely to see him pop out of about 6 or so cave entrances in a 24 nano. He has a serious tunnel system under the rockwork in my tank. But the shrimp and goby are always out and about and able to be seen.

Good luck with yours - they're awesome critters!

 

[Guygettnby]

thanks for the quick info on them. hopefully mine will come out more and more. he hides alot right as of now and there are so many damn caves now it is unreal. i am thinking about getting another and maybe trying to match it up with a twin spot goby.

if that doesnt work i will just go with the YWM goby instead.

 

[mjoener]

hey there pistol shrimp pros-
I'm thinking about getting a pair as well.
Check this thread out: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1323033
It's my nano build, I'm just wondering if there is enough sand in it for a goby/pistol shrimp pair

 

[Snowboarda42]

^looks perfect for a PS. Just be careful because they like to dig under your rocks which can lead to a landslide in your tank