Tiger Pistol Shrimp and Orange Spotted Goby

[smbrach]

Hello,
I just bought a Tiger Pistol Shrimp and Orange Spotted Goby yesterday. They were paired in the tank at the store. Drip acclimated them and put them in the tank last night. I made sure to place the two together, so they wouldn't "lose" each other. I see evidence of the shrimps busy work and burrow today, but haven't seen the goby. Does the goby go into the burrow?

The other tank mates in my 55 gallon are a False Percula Clown, a 6 line wrasse, 2 chromis, a scarlet cleaner shrimp, a serpent star, a tuxedo urchin, a green mythrix, some dwarf hermits, and variety of snails. Tank parameters are good.

Thanks.

 

[small alien]

The goby will go into the burrow. Give it a couple days and you'll likely see your fish.

 

[smbrach]

In the store they were so neat to watch together, but the goby stayed out of the burrow. I hope that it's just in the burrow then and didn't jump out or something.

 

[jhentr]

IME my goby and shrimp never parted far from each other for long. If you see one, you'll usually see the other. Since the shrimp has bad eyesight, it'll always keep an antennae on the fish for protection - esp. when it's out in the open working on their burrow.

Good luck and hopefully the goby will turn up sooner or later.

 

[smbrach]

I did some flashlight searching and the goby is in the burrow with the shrimp. I feel better now that I found it!

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tiny7]

Just give them some time to get used to the new environment.

When I added my paired Tiger pistol and Watchman goby, they traveled to opposite ends of the tank. I was fearful that they wouldn't find each other. A couple days later they started a burrow. And today, they're inseparable. The watchman guards the tiger as he does his "construction."

 

[smbrach]

Hi,
This morning, I looked in my tank to find that they ventured out under the next pile of rock, but went back to their original burrow. So, perhaps they are feeling more comfortable! I just hope that the goby doesn't hide all the time. I want to see him!

 

[TripleT]

It's likely that you'll eventually see the goby more often, and the shrimp will be the one hiding.

Until you see them settle into a routine, make sure to target feed the burrow occasionally. Use a turkey baster for frozen foods, or drop some small sinking pellets in the area.

But most importantly, set up a QT tank. Every new purchase is a chance to wipe out your entire tank. And without a stress free environment, it can be much more difficult for fish to survive the first few weeks of captivity.

 

[smbrach]

Thank you TripleT. I did target feed the burrow last night. I noticed after that some flurry of sand, so I think that the shrimp must have grabbed some of the food.

I have considered a QT tank, but don't have one yet. The store that I purchase most of my fish from QT almost every SW fish that they get for 1-2 weeks before selling them, and treats whatever necessary. So, from that store, I haven't felt the need to QT. I actually was just thinking about a QT tank yesterday, not for the goby, but I have 2 other fish that I want to trade with a different store, and their fish sometimes aren't healthy. Thank you for the suggestion. Maybe I'll pick up a nano for that purpose.

 

[TripleT]

The flurry of sand was either the shrimp firing his claw, or the goby's tail. I'd bet on the goby.

QT is important for several reasons, with disease prevention/treatment being just part of that.

1-2 weeks is better than none, but QT for 4-8 weeks is a much better idea.

If you have an LFS that appears to have unhealthy fish often, I would not trade with them, or spend money there. Support your other LFS.

As far as QT, I'd skip the nano and get something like a standard 20 long, and an AquaClear hang on filter (easy to clean, holds anything you might want to put in it, adjustable flow).

Good luck!