Shrimp ID: Pistol?
- Thread starter Khai
- Start date
philter4
New member
I don't have the scientific name, but it looks just like a shrimp from here, it is a cleaner, it lives in anemones and is very common. It is a pistol shrimp, but I have never seen them associate with anything except curlycue anemones, but they are often found with pedersons cleaners in the same anemone.
He doesn't seem to like the lil YWG, the goby has been hanging around the hole in the rocks where the shrimp set up shop, he even went into the hole once...but was
promptly kicked out with a loud series of
clicks...
The poor rejected goby looked so sad, poor little guy.
I'm hoping the shrimp is not a japanese pistol, I've read that pairing is really rare for that type...
promptly kicked out with a loud series of
clicks...
The poor rejected goby looked so sad, poor little guy.
I'm hoping the shrimp is not a japanese pistol, I've read that pairing is really rare for that type...
philter4
New member
I agree with Dalston, but there are 30+ species from here and most can't easily be told apart. I have also seen them wave their long antenna and attract parrots which will lay down to have them come from the anemone and be cleaned, I have also watched them clean tangs. Even though they are pistols I have watched them clean on several occasions, and many times I've seen them wave their antenna to get the attention of large reef fish.
iamwhatiam52
New member
I believe it is Alpheus armatus. I LOVE those guys!!
They live with the anemone Bartholomea annulata (spelling may be rong) or curly-que anemone. I have seen hundreds of pairs of these in Florida and all over the Caribbean, always with the same species of anemone.
philter4 is correct in that the same anemone often hosts Periclimenes shrimp and everyone gets along fine. I do not believe however that they are cleaners.
My pair has been in my tank 3 years with a host anemone. At times the same anemone has hosted Periclimenes shrimp and had Thor amboinensis (sexy shrimp) around it. They have never harmed anything.
I'll post a pic and answer any questions you have later.... no time now.
They live with the anemone Bartholomea annulata (spelling may be rong) or curly-que anemone. I have seen hundreds of pairs of these in Florida and all over the Caribbean, always with the same species of anemone.
philter4 is correct in that the same anemone often hosts Periclimenes shrimp and everyone gets along fine. I do not believe however that they are cleaners.
My pair has been in my tank 3 years with a host anemone. At times the same anemone has hosted Periclimenes shrimp and had Thor amboinensis (sexy shrimp) around it. They have never harmed anything.
I'll post a pic and answer any questions you have later.... no time now.
Awesome! Thanks guys! I'd appreciate whatever info you can give me Iamwhatiam, what to feed him and the like.
I'm thinking of getting a tiger pistol for the goby since this matchmaking has not gone down well...the armatus has taken up residence in a cave facing towards the back of the tank. The tank is a 22G with two islands (he occupies one).
I'm thinking of getting a tiger pistol for the goby since this matchmaking has not gone down well...the armatus has taken up residence in a cave facing towards the back of the tank. The tank is a 22G with two islands (he occupies one).
iamwhatiam52
New member
They eat any animal matter they can get their claws on except bristle worms. No need to cater to them, they will be fine with whatever you feed your tank.
Get an anemone for the shrimp if there is room. The anemone will attach inside the cave and extend out about 6 inches. The shrimp will go wherever the anemone establishes itself and will dig out the sand below.
Get an anemone for the shrimp if there is room. The anemone will attach inside the cave and extend out about 6 inches. The shrimp will go wherever the anemone establishes itself and will dig out the sand below.
philter4
New member
I know it doesn't matter for care, but not only have I seen them clean both parrots and tangs, but in the book Reef Creatures Paul Humann gives discription of cleaning, even having them clean the cuticles of his fingers. They use the long antenna to advertise the fact that they clean, waving them like other cleaners do to attract fish.
iamwhatiam52
New member
Thanks for the information. That only makes them more interesting!
lildraken
New member
yesterday I saw a pistol shrimp that looked almost exactly like a fire cleaner shrimp. I couldn't find a pic on the internet but since some species of snapper shrimps live with cleaners, I don't find it hard to believe that they do the same jobs. <a href="http://s494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/Digital_boi/?action=view¤t=redpistolshrimp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/Digital_boi/th_redpistolshrimp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
<a href="http://s494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/Digital_boi/?action=view¤t=FireShrimp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/Digital_boi/th_FireShrimp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
<a href="http://s494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/Digital_boi/?action=view¤t=FireShrimp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/Digital_boi/th_FireShrimp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
lildraken
New member
there is a popular video circulating depicting a pistol shrimp that hunt cleaner shrimp. Will this mean We are not able to keep other types of shrimps with our beloved pistol? the film really confused me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKPrGxB1Kzc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKPrGxB1Kzc
iamwhatiam52
New member
Pistol Pair in anemone pics
Pistol Pair in anemone pics
Sorry it took so long to post these.
I am the worlds worst photographer. The shrimp and anemone are MUCH more beautiful in real life.
NOTICE THE GRASS SHRIMP ON THE LEFT SIDE, SECOND PIC. The pistols do not bother it.
I have had this pair over 3 years in two different tanks with tiny gobies, cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp, Pederson shrimp, pom pom crabs and lord knows what else. They have done no harm to anything.
Pistol Pair in anemone pics
Sorry it took so long to post these.
I am the worlds worst photographer. The shrimp and anemone are MUCH more beautiful in real life.
NOTICE THE GRASS SHRIMP ON THE LEFT SIDE, SECOND PIC. The pistols do not bother it.
I have had this pair over 3 years in two different tanks with tiny gobies, cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp, Pederson shrimp, pom pom crabs and lord knows what else. They have done no harm to anything.
iamwhatiam52
New member
I have seen this video and doubt the accuracy of the information.
Just because the narrator has an authoritative voice and a British accent does not mean what he says is true.
This has been discussed elsewhere, but the search is down and I can't find it.
iamwhatiam52
New member
I wonder if the differences in aggressive behavior are due to the species, how well they are fed, or just the personality of each individual shrimp.
