Just added a small Randall's shrimp in hopes of it pairing with my recently added Yellow Watchman. It quickly disappeared into the rocks 3 days ago, and I haven't seen it since. From the picture you can see where my YWG hangs out, but hes not in there. Don't see much tunneling, was hoping he would pop up right next to the goby's hole. Haven't even heard any popping for the last 2 days...
Where's my Randall's Shrimp?
- Thread starter Eug40
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I added one in my tank that I haven't seen since adding it. That was around 3 months ago. I see signs of it though and popping throughout the day. Mine was tiny, like 1/2" at best. I have a shrimp goby as well and they haven't paired up. The shrimp goby is pretty big though so I don't think he'd fit in the tunnels and holes in live rock that the shrimp lives.
I've had a yellow watchman and pistol pair before that were always out together but the shrimp was much bigger. I'd say just give it time and see if you start hearing popping. Is the goby the only other thing in your tank?
I've had a yellow watchman and pistol pair before that were always out together but the shrimp was much bigger. I'd say just give it time and see if you start hearing popping. Is the goby the only other thing in your tank?
Thanks for the feedback ramseynb. I have 2 ocellaris in there. The shrimp I added was your size.. tiny. I opted for the Randall's instead of the larger Tigers at the very last minute because of the striking red color. Perhaps this was a mistake. My YWG just hangs out in that little cove under the rocks. (can you see from the picture?) I was hoping the shrimp would just appear next to him like I've seen in other reefers' pictures. I've craned my neck all around the tank, and can't see him nor any evidence of significant sand displacement.. (no popping either.. hope hes ok at the very least lol)
On another tangent brought about by your second question, was thinking of adding some kind of useful, colorful blenny and a Helfrichi. Gave up on a 6 line, royal gama and other eye-popping fish given the warnings of their aggression and my small tank size. Maybe a McCloskey's later if everything goes well? Any thoughts on these matters would be appreciated...
Thanks again!
On another tangent brought about by your second question, was thinking of adding some kind of useful, colorful blenny and a Helfrichi. Gave up on a 6 line, royal gama and other eye-popping fish given the warnings of their aggression and my small tank size. Maybe a McCloskey's later if everything goes well? Any thoughts on these matters would be appreciated...
Thanks again!
Where's my Randall's Shrimp?
With the other critters in your tank, I would expect to hear some popping from the shrimp at some point. I regret not going with a tiger as well but I stay hopeful that it'll eventually pair up with the goby.
As far as fish go, I can't say enough great things about a tail spot blenny. They have a quirky blenny personality, stay pretty small and are colorful compared to other blennies. The couple that I've had were also not aggressive at all. I currently have two two spot bimaculatus blennies. They're characters and I enjoy them but I wish I had went with another tail spot. The two spot blennies are super tiny (they look like minnows) and aren't as colorful but they do have that blenny personality.
I also currently have a Helfrichi firefish that I love! I really didn't want to pay so much for a small fish but my wife picked it out so I took advantage of her not being able to blame me for spending too much on something.
I'm glad I got it though. I've had other red firefish before and zebra barred dart fish and I've liked them as well, but the Helifrichi isn't near as skittish and is just super colorful and always out swimming in the open. The other dartfish I've had would bolt in the rock work if I moved to quickly. The only time this guy hides is during a water change, when I'm adding water back into the tank. I can walk right up to the tank and put my face up to it and he'll just stare back at me. It's been a very cool and personable fish. I'm not sure if they're typically like that or I just got lucky. Either way, it was well worth it.
Some other cool small peaceful fish are Banggai cardinalfish. I always thought they were boring but after having one, I really like them. I've had a couple of Possum Wrasses as well. They're really pretty but I've not had good luck with them. For whatever reason, they didn't live long and hid the entire time. I will say that the Tanaka Possum Wrasse is a looker for sure.
Good call on avoiding the six line. I made the mistake of buying what I thought was a pink-streaked wrasse but was actually a scarlet lined wrasse. The LFS has it labeled a "œpossum wrasse" which I knew it wasn't but I thought it was a pink streaked wrasse which are supposedly peaceful. The scarlet lined wrasse isn't super aggressive but it does bully the helfrichi and banggai some. I've noticed a couple of times there's been a small "œbreak" in the helfrichi's fin and I've wondered if the wrasse caused it. He's kind of a jerk about it too. He'll just dart out of the rock work and start being a bully but other times he'll swim along side them like he's not sure if he's a wrasse or not. I've been debating taking him back to the LFS so it's good you're not making the same mistake. The worst thing is to gaze into your peaceful tank only to have one butthole ruin it by being a bully.
With the other critters in your tank, I would expect to hear some popping from the shrimp at some point. I regret not going with a tiger as well but I stay hopeful that it'll eventually pair up with the goby.
As far as fish go, I can't say enough great things about a tail spot blenny. They have a quirky blenny personality, stay pretty small and are colorful compared to other blennies. The couple that I've had were also not aggressive at all. I currently have two two spot bimaculatus blennies. They're characters and I enjoy them but I wish I had went with another tail spot. The two spot blennies are super tiny (they look like minnows) and aren't as colorful but they do have that blenny personality.
I also currently have a Helfrichi firefish that I love! I really didn't want to pay so much for a small fish but my wife picked it out so I took advantage of her not being able to blame me for spending too much on something.
I'm glad I got it though. I've had other red firefish before and zebra barred dart fish and I've liked them as well, but the Helifrichi isn't near as skittish and is just super colorful and always out swimming in the open. The other dartfish I've had would bolt in the rock work if I moved to quickly. The only time this guy hides is during a water change, when I'm adding water back into the tank. I can walk right up to the tank and put my face up to it and he'll just stare back at me. It's been a very cool and personable fish. I'm not sure if they're typically like that or I just got lucky. Either way, it was well worth it.Some other cool small peaceful fish are Banggai cardinalfish. I always thought they were boring but after having one, I really like them. I've had a couple of Possum Wrasses as well. They're really pretty but I've not had good luck with them. For whatever reason, they didn't live long and hid the entire time. I will say that the Tanaka Possum Wrasse is a looker for sure.
Good call on avoiding the six line. I made the mistake of buying what I thought was a pink-streaked wrasse but was actually a scarlet lined wrasse. The LFS has it labeled a "œpossum wrasse" which I knew it wasn't but I thought it was a pink streaked wrasse which are supposedly peaceful. The scarlet lined wrasse isn't super aggressive but it does bully the helfrichi and banggai some. I've noticed a couple of times there's been a small "œbreak" in the helfrichi's fin and I've wondered if the wrasse caused it. He's kind of a jerk about it too. He'll just dart out of the rock work and start being a bully but other times he'll swim along side them like he's not sure if he's a wrasse or not. I've been debating taking him back to the LFS so it's good you're not making the same mistake. The worst thing is to gaze into your peaceful tank only to have one butthole ruin it by being a bully.
Oh yeah! Another one I've yet to try but would like to at some point is a chalk bass. I've heard they're pretty peaceful and they're colorful. I've yet to see one in my LFS, but liveaquria has them from time to time. I think I've seen them at KPaquatics as well since they're Caribbean fish.
Purely anecdotally, my red banded pistol shrimp seemed MIA for a while when I first got him (also very tiny) except occasionally I could see evidence of burrowing. But after a few weeks I saw him paired with my yellow watchman goby. So, could just be a little patience is needed!
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brianbrainstein
New member
I've had my pistol shrimp for about a year now-I saw its claw once and it's antennas a few times poking out from its hole, but that's it. Five sightings tops. The only reason I know it is alive is I can see it from the bottom of the tank and I hear it popping. I don't even know what it eats haha.
It never paired with my goby.
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It never paired with my goby.
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UPDATE
They found each other about a month ago! I guess just let nature take its course. The shrimp has become braver with each passing day and I can enjoy viewing him now. The colors of the two are striking and make a great pair. Glad I went with the Randall, rather than the larger and duller(?) colored pistol.
Also added a Helfrichi after a long wait, and a juvenile Mccoskers and a baby tailspot as well. All denizens seem to be getting along famously. Tailspot is tiny, hope he is eating. McCoskers doesnt have the great colors as it is still a juvenile, and the original Ocellaris pair have shown zero aggression towards the newcomers.
Kind of want ONE more swimmer to complete. That chalk bass RamseyB suggested looks like a prime candidate, but worried about the comfort of all the fish. Even though they are are not fully grown, cept for the Helfrichi, don't want vanity to crowd the tank.
They found each other about a month ago! I guess just let nature take its course. The shrimp has become braver with each passing day and I can enjoy viewing him now. The colors of the two are striking and make a great pair. Glad I went with the Randall, rather than the larger and duller(?) colored pistol.
Also added a Helfrichi after a long wait, and a juvenile Mccoskers and a baby tailspot as well. All denizens seem to be getting along famously. Tailspot is tiny, hope he is eating. McCoskers doesnt have the great colors as it is still a juvenile, and the original Ocellaris pair have shown zero aggression towards the newcomers.
Kind of want ONE more swimmer to complete. That chalk bass RamseyB suggested looks like a prime candidate, but worried about the comfort of all the fish. Even though they are are not fully grown, cept for the Helfrichi, don't want vanity to crowd the tank.
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