question on pistol shrimp color

[lossman]

Hi Richard et al,

We have two pistol shrimps in our tank. We rarely get to see them. They have dug tunnels down in the sand but the two shrimps have burrow entrances right opposite each other. I have seen the red pistol shrimp a couple of times as he takes rocks out of his burrow and piles them in front of the other shrimps hole. Today, I saw the other shrimp. He seems to be greenish looking with yellowish claws. Is this right or was I seeing something else? Thanks for your help, and btw, we absolutely adore our TBS rock!!! I would not go any other way inspite of the mantis and gorillas that laugh at my traps!

 

[docklink]

I've seen pictures in this forum of blue with orange claws and solid red. My 2nd half had probably a half dozen pistols. One was a very dark grey (solid), another a dark olive (solid), still another that was almost transparent with a yellow big claw. The others I'm not sure of as I have only seen them after lights-out with my moonlights aided with a red flashight; hard to judge the colors under those circumstances. They seem to run the spectrum.

 

[fvandijk]

Here's a pic of one of the pistol shrimps I got with my package. The claws and body are orangish-red and the legs and antennae are kinda purplish-blue. They were initially very reclusive but now have become greedy enough that they will briefly show themselves at feeding time.

(I've not tried to add pictures to a post yet, if it doesn't work, there are copies in my gallery).

 

[docklink]

Nice photos!!!

 

[fvandijk]

Does anyone know whether these pistol shrimp may pair up with shrimp-gobies?
Thanks.

 

[docklink]

Does anyone know whether these pistol shrimp may pair up with shrimp-gobies?
Thanks.

I don't really know. The only references I could find are for gobies that inhabit the western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Red Sea and, of course, the pistol shrimp of those regions. Link
Regardless, you would need to add to the depth of your sand bed to accomodate the tunneling of a shrimp gobie.