Could this be a pistol shrimp?

lndlkdreef · 04-10-2006, 11:35 PM

Has a crawfish looking tail/claws, with one being larger than the other. Fairly small maybe 3/4"... kinda a light brown/opaque color. Sorry for poor quality pic ...if it even shows up.. first time posting pic

Loverotties · 04-11-2006, 06:05 AM

Hard to make out,but it looks like a crawfish too me or shrimp.

lndlkdreef · 04-11-2006, 06:36 AM

Well, won't matter that much if I don't ID it. Tank is just now settling out after adding dry substrate. All I have added so far is a few small pieces of LR from LFS to help settle and start to cycle. I have 75 lbs of uncured LR on its way to cycle the whole tank and cure rock. If this little guy survives that I'll figure it out then.

Little Luey · 04-11-2006, 08:58 AM

Welcome to the reef tank!

Geoff · 04-11-2006, 09:58 AM

it looks like a pistol to me.

G~

mungus · 04-11-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

it looks like a pistol to me.

I totally agree. Looks like a pistol. Very cool hitchhiker to have. If you have sand a simbiotic goby would be a great addition. Here is a link with some additional info.

http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/H...ndel-Krebs.htm

Brian

lndlkdreef · 04-11-2006, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the info guys!(and the wlecome!) Now I'm wondering if I should put this little guy in a seperate QT tank while I let my LR cycle? He was a freebie hitchiker on the few pieces of LR I bought from the LFS to help settle out my tank. The majority of my LR will be uncured when it arrives later this week. Will the cycling kill him off? Was considering getting a pistol shrimp when tank was a bit more mature, would be nice to not have to pay for it.

lndlkdreef · 04-15-2006, 11:42 PM

Thought I'd give an update. I turned on the lights earlier to take a look at the tank and spotted some movement. It is indeed a pistol shrimp. The water is sooooooo much clearer now and as such he is much easier to see.

He ran off and hid under a rock after about 10 seconds. These critters typically nocturnal? He seemed interested in getting under cover once the lights came on.

I will take the camera down with me later to see if I can get a better pic of him. I'd estimate his length at 1" to 1 1/4" long with light reddish/brown markings. The markings appear to be somewhat more pronounced then a few days ago. Hopefully that is a sign of a happy and adjusting critter.

ChrisPrusha · 04-16-2006, 08:11 AM

The cycling of the tank could very well kill him. If you can, throw him in a QT with the rock he is hiding in. If you can then later match him up with a symbiotic goby, you will hopefully have many hours of enjoyment watching the two together. I know I do, anyway.