Would you put a Pistol Shrimp in your main display tank?

[Alice]

Or does anyone have one? I have a Pistol shrimp that has always stayed in the sump. I'd love to explore shrimp/goby pairs (first I need to get an ID on the sp. of the shrimp!) but I'm thinking I may be nuts to consider it in my main tank rather than in a species tank. Anyone with thoughts on this or experience?

~Alice

[FishDaddy]

Alice,
I had an Alpheus sp./Threadfin (Stonogobiops nematodes)Goby pair in the 55 a couple of years ago.

They came as a pair from the LFS. I really enjoyed them though the shrimp did dig the sandbed up a bit 'til he found just the right place for his cave under the live rock. The goby didn't survive the "Crash of 99" and the shrimp died a month or so later during a bad molt.
I really liked them and wish they had survived. It was great to drop shrimp pellets to the mouth of the cave and watch the goby swoop them up and take them in for both to feast on.
In your 125, there should be plenty of room for these unique symbiotopes and once settled in, substrate disturbance should be minimal.
Can't predict whether a goby would pair up with the shrimp; might try introducing them to a smaller tank for a bit to see if they like each other!
Dick

[MontanaRocknReefer]

HI Alice! I also had a pistol shrimp in my old 72 bow front and he was a substrate moving bulldozer!
I was surprised a couple of LR did not fall in on him when he was done moving most of the substrate from underneath.
It also took me awhile to get use to the noise they make. When I first heard it I thought my tank had cracked. They are cool critters to watch. Johnny

[fredly]

I might have a pistol in my main tank. I've heard the clicking daily for months now, but haven't seen a sign of who's doing it. No bulldozing going on - nothing but clicking. I've gotten used to it myself and sincerly hope that I don't have to go in there and try to remove it someday - that would be a disaster!

Jeeper

[Drew]

I am planning on a pistol/goby pair for my 90, they would be one of the first things I add. That Threadfin Goby is one neat-looking fish. I think that I may go with him instead of a watchman. Very cool. The only problem I forsee is that if I add them early, the substrate may not have enough bacteria and other thing in it to get it to "stick" together, which would make it hard to burrow. WHat do you guys think?

Jeep, sounds like you could have one...Lucky!

Drew

[Alice]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Drew. Jawfish use small pebbles, shells, etc. to line their burrows to keep them from collapsing. Do the shrimp do that too?

[galleon]

Alice, yes, based excavation techniques of both burrowing Opistognathids and Alpheus species, substrate size must be varied and fairly large (1.5 mm - 4 mm, avg) to enable them to physically construct burrows. If the substrate sizes remains consistent, or is too small, the animals are forced to use other means as walls (generally rock nooks or, more commonly, the corner of the aquarium).
Chris

[ 07-28-2001: Message edited by: galleon ]

[Alice]

Thanks for the replies all. Building materials would have to be on order in my tank then

[ 07-28-2001: Message edited by: Alice ]

[DaveJ]

I remember Drew commenting on getting a goby/pistol pair when he saw the photo of my watchman.

Just curious here, but I have never heard of this pair. I have seen photos of pistols and such, but always thought of them as low-life undesirable types You know.. like Democrats (sorry couldn't help it). What do they do together that makes them so neat?? I understand the anenome/clown thing, but what about these two??

Also, what kind of compantiblity issues would you have with other inverts with the pistol?? Specifically other species of shrimps like cleaners, CB's and Fireshrimp.

[FishDaddy]

Alice,
The live sand I put atop my Aragonite was pretty course with bits of rubble. It was fun watching the Alpheus selecting building blocks and scurrying back down to shore up the sand tunnels. He had my whole tank to choose from before he settled on one lair. In your tank, you could shorten his site selection list by choosing the area you want him to be and scattering some course stuff just in that area. He'll find it; mine scoured the whole tank before being satisfied.
The way they behave, you'd almost think they have a brain!!!!!
Dick

[ChrisIsBored]

DaveJ Pistol Shrimps and Goby's have a symbiotic relation.

Just like clowns & anenome's. One protects the other, and in return the clown keeps the anenome well fed.

Pistol Shrimps have poor vision, in nature poor vision usually means you're lunchmeat. In return for the eyesight of the Goby, the shrimp offers a safe place to hide. Together they make a cool sight. I'm hoping to get a Y. Watchman/Shrimp pair a while after I eventually get my new tank up.

[carolina98]

I love my randalli goby, and pistol shrimp pair. The randalli is perfect for a smaller reef, as they don't get as large as the Watchman, nor do they sift the sand. The Randalli is a little harder to find, but well worth the extra effort!