Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp

JCox · 08-27-2005, 11:50 PM

Does anyone have a goby/pistol shrimp pair? I used to think that the clown/anemone hosting was the coolest example of symbiotic relationship in the reef. That was until I got a red banded pistol shrimp for my yellow watchman goby. Watching these 2 is incredibly entertaining. The shrimp follows the goby EVERYWHERE it goes. He actually will tug on the goby, as in, let's go back to the hole. It's actually quite comical, reminds me of our dog that just has to follow us at all times. I watched yesterday as I thought my goby was eating much more than he normally does. Turns out, he was storing it in his mouth and spitting it back out to give to the shrimp. Has anyone else seen this feeding behaviour before?

lizzie · 08-28-2005, 12:21 AM

I looked this up because this pairing sounds so interesting! Hope it helps...

The shrimp is almost blind, and relies on the goby to warn it of danger by flicking its tail. It detects this by always having an antenna in contact with the goby. The goby, in turn, benefits from the food stirred up from the gravel by the always burrowing shrimp, as well as from hiding in the holes the shrimp digs out under the rocks and sand. So far, they have a system of galleries that probably add up to 40cm in length.

reef_noob · 08-28-2005, 12:27 AM

Sounds like a great pair! I've seen them in the lfs and thought they were really cool. Alas, no sand bed = no watchman goby.

VWD · 08-28-2005, 09:01 AM

yes that is very cool, I seen that on a show once before. or read it somewhere.Heck I can't remember . I am a member of

Mich3417 · 08-28-2005, 03:59 PM

I have a pair in both my reef tanks. Never seen the goby feed the shrimp...but they are best of buds.....

JCox · 08-28-2005, 06:17 PM

Here's a pic of the dynamic duo.

dobejazz · 08-28-2005, 07:25 PM

Did you buy them together or did you add the shrimp later?

JCox · 08-28-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Did you buy them together or did you add the shrimp later?

I added the pistol shrimp about 2 wks. after the goby. Another funny quirk that I'm seeing with the pistol shrimp is that he is dragging all of the spare hermit shells back to their hole. He has lined the front of their hole with these shells in the shape of a fence, pretty crazy. He is even trying to drag the mushroom rock in the previous pic back to his hole. I actually took that pic as he was struggling to drag it back. He isn't even making it move at all, but he sure keeps trying!

aussiereefer82 · 08-28-2005, 08:51 PM

Cool. Have thinking about setting up a nano and getting a pair of these guys, maybe i will.