Will I ever see my pistol shrimp?

[Carissa]

I have a 28g nano tank, the only inhabitants (other than snails) are a lawnmower blenny and a clownfish. I got a pistol shrimp and I am intending on getting a watchman goby and that will be it for stocking.... anyway it was about 3 weeks ago and I have yet to see the pistol shrimp since the first day! I have a big pile of branch live rock so it is pretty easy for him to hide. But sand is appearing in strange places and pits are being dug so he must be coming out sometime...I'm sure nobody else is doing this digging, but even if I turn the lights on suddenly at night I never see him! Will he ever decide to come out so I can see him? Also do they generally make that snapping noise occasionally or is it only when attacked? I've heard some noises coming from the tank that sounds like it during the day... at first I thought it was a glass thermometer that I had floating in the tank bumping up against the glass... but then I realized that I don't have that thermometer in there anymore...?

 

[exotic_reefer]

If you hear a sound like a finger nail clipper and you'll know he's in there. He may dig a hole to the front but just to close it and open one somewhere else.

I've had one pair with a yellow watchman as soon as dropped in the tank but my goby now took like a year to finally pair or longer, I figured it wasn't gonna happen.

When paired, I see the pistol shrimp much more, just behind the goby. I have the little red banded one.

 

[owen386]

Might be waiting for the safety of a friend (goby)
I see my goby/pistol pair all the time. Definitely took a few weeks after being in the tank together for them to feel comfortable, but now they have no fear of coming out and re arranging my sand bed! If I could get them Out I would. Would re gain control of my sand bed and be able to place corals. Oh man I remember the days LOL

 

[Alberta-newb]

I have hardly seen my pistol shrimp for over five years! He came in with the first pieces of live rock. Not a burrowing type, instead he has his own rock. He's been busy "renovating" as now it is almost completely hollow with about 7 exits. Oddly he hasn't grown much all this time, still about 1.5". I tried pairing him with a yellow watchman a few years ago, the watchman tried, but the shrimp ignored it. After a few weeks the goby gave up and moved to the opposite side of the tank.

 

[iClown]

I see mine at night. Don't feed him and he'll come out. My hi fin goby was paired with it in the beginning and now they're no longer best buddies. It's whatever now lol. I do enjoy the pistol when I do get to see him at work.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

I have a randalls and a tiger both are paired up with gobies, I see the Tiger fairly often(few times a week) randalls i see a lot less of. Adding a Goby for him to pair with should make him more comfortable that you might see him out during the day.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

I have hardly seen my pistol shrimp for over five years! He came in with the first pieces of live rock. Not a burrowing type, instead he has his own rock. He's been busy "renovating" as now it is almost completely hollow with about 7 exits. Oddly he hasn't grown much all this time, still about 1.5". I tried pairing him with a yellow watchman a few years ago, the watchman tried, but the shrimp ignored it. After a few weeks the goby gave up and moved to the opposite side of the tank.

Do you know where your rock came from? If its from florida its likely a non pairing type of pistol shrimp, I think only Pacific/Indian ocean species are the pairing up type.

 

[Alberta-newb]

Yes, this rock was from Fiji if I remember correctly. I think you're right about him being "non pairing". He doesn't burrow in sand and has never ventured more than half way out of his rock Seems to be an opportunistic feeder, if a snail gets close it's toast. I give him a big piece of krill about once a week. Through one of the holes you can watch him stuff it in a corner for safe keeping.

 

[Alberta-newb]

The rock came from Fiji if I remember correctly. I think you're right that he may be a "non pairing" pistol as he doesn't burrow in sand and has never ventured beyond touching distance of his rock and that is a rare occasion. He used to take out snails that got too close but now I feed him a large piece of krill weekly. You can see him through one of the holes stuffing the food in a corner for safe keeping.

Tried to ID it but there must literally be hundreds of species. All I know he is reddish orange in color and small