Watchman Questions.

[balakoth]

Well that little bug that gets reefers got me today at the LFS. Saw this pair last week for sale, a "Watchman"(Cryptocentrus cinctus) (Or so they claimed) Gobie and a (Alpheus sp.) Tiger Pistol Shrimp. They had built a very cool little cave so far and I broke down and bought them hehe. Well the gobie instantly went into hiding mode and hasnt come out now (5 hours) It is lights out now and the pistol shrimp sits in a little aclove while the watchman still stays in his deep cavern under the liverock. Ive heard they are quiet skitish, but will he eventually come out and find his friend or what? From the reading I've done the pistol shrimp is basically blind and vulnerable outside on his own in a reef ocean (probably just feels that way in mine Feel bad for the little guy without his friend.

Any comments on these pairs and acclimation experiences? Thanks


- Joe

[balakoth]

By the way. From the photos I have seen of a Watchman Gobie. They do not look like the one I have. Yet the 3 that the LFS had labled as Watchmans all looked alike.

Anyone have a picture of one of these? Ive seen only one in a book I could find, and it was small

[kestrel]

Congratulations on your new purchase. I have a Tiger Pistol and a Randall's Goby that I got just after Christmas. Mine hid for the first day, but then paired up and went into digging mode . I hope all of your rock work is well-foundationed. If not, consider re-building before they rearrange for your. Within 36 hours, mine had undermined my LR and caused a rock-slide. I had to go back and completely re-landscape, with extra base rock to ensure solid foundations. Those shrimp are busier than any beaver ever thought about being.

After about two weeks, they settled into a set of tunnels under and through my barnicles. I can't see much of the barnicles, becasue so much sand has been removed from underneath, but the shrimp/goby pair is worth it. Mine now change the front door every 1-2 days. It's a lot of fun to guess where they will be in the morning. They do pretty much stay within 2-4" of the tunnel, but will occasionally come out farther if nothing is going on around the tank and the other fish are calm. I've seen signs of digging all the way down to the opposite end of my 55 gal. a couple of times.

One sure way for me to see my pair is to feed them. They love brine shrimp . Don't worry about target feeding. It only seems to scare them back into the hole. Besides, they seem to dig the tunnel so that the currents will carry some food directly into the hole

Daryl

[ShirleyM]

Hi Joe,
Everything you and Daryl said about Watchman's and their pistol shrimp has been true for us. We've had our Yellow Watchman Goby for 4 yrs this September! We lost his first Pistol Shrimp after one year, during a molt, but have had his new one ever since that loss.
He RARELY comes out during the day, they tend to come out each evening to either "watch" and wait for food (the shrimp usually stays behind him with its feelers touching him) or the Watchman sits by idly while the pistol rearranges sand and rock and does tunnel work.

This pair started in a 30-G reef, but had to be caught and moved after a couple of months, maybe less. Like Daryl said, the shrimp was causing rock-slides and such. So, they've lived in our 10-Gal minireef for 3-1/2 years.

The Pistol Shrimp makes loud clicking noises to find his partner whe they become separated, like during a move or introducing them initially.

We drop a piece of shrimp in and the Watchman carries it to the Pistol Shrimp. The Watchman eats everything from Formula i & II to fresh shrimp.

They are quite a conversation piece, and I made a neat video of them working together by leaving the camera on tripod inches from their work area of that evening and letting it run. After all this time, and substantial increase in size, they are still very shy.

Here's a not-so-great pic of the Watchman. If you go to the Website listed below, click 10-G tank updates, you'll see the 10-G tank full view, but I can't find a pic of the Pistol Shrimp or a better one of the Watchman. I'm thinking I only have the Pistol Shrimp on video.

Enjoy!
Shirley

[balakoth]

Hrm can Watchmans be different colors? Mine looks nothing like that at all, hes a light beige with a big fin and has kind of rusty dark brown stripes.

Ill hopefully snap a picture of him when he gets his tooshy out of his cave.


- Joe

[scotty]

balakoth,

Does your goby have a large black eyespot on its dorsal fin?

Scotty

[balakoth]

Scotty, no. He has a clear fine (With orange veins) His stripping resembles the Tiger Pistol Shrimp roughly (Same with the colors of the stripes)


Joe

[Freddiejoenunn]

There are many species of shrimp gobies.Check out this site http://uri.sakura.ne.jp./~dd/goby.htm

[balakoth]

Many thanks for that link Freddy! I found my gobie right away.

Heres a picture that I found on that site, looks exactly like him (especially the eyes) He finally came out this morning too. Still real shy though.


Again thanks


BTW The scientific name for this one is Amblyeleotris (They had 4 species with the same name.. this one was "4") My girlfriend has already taken the liberty of naming the pair : "Tango and Cash"

Have a good morning all!

[chess_wizard]

give them some time. they will pair up.

[Freddiejoenunn]

Thats a great looking goby balakoth.

[ShirleyM]

I finally got a picture of the Watchman and his Shrimp...

Shirley