How Often Do You See Your Pistol Shrimp?

[mdavis203]

I've pondered getting a goby/pistol pair, but I've heard so many people say they rarely, if ever, see their pistol shrimp. So, I decided to post a poll to see what experiences you pistol shrimp owners have. Please vote... and, it'd be helpful if you'd also post what kind of pistol shrimp you have and what kind of goby (if any) it's paired with.

Thanks for playing!

[paraletho]

I have a Tiger Pistol/Orangespot Goby pair. They are always together and the pistol is always working. He has about 8 different holes that I have found so far but has his favorites.



They are a lot of fun but can be a pain too. In the video notice right above the goby's head a small orange nepthea frag I came home the next day only to find it completely buried.

[mdavis203]

Getting pretty good participation in the poll. I'd love to see more discussion in the actual post, too.

[rendogg]

Sweet video! I had to participate in this thread when I read that there was only one response so far....poor under acknowledged pistol shrimp! I have a Randall's pistol paired with a Watchman goby and the the shrimp's favorite hole is right in the front left corner of my tank. It's network of tunnels goes under a rock and pops up in a few places around it. I lucked out with it's burrow and it's fairly active, I see it almost every time I stop and view my aquarium! You don't ever hear much of rock dwelling pistols but I have a couple of those that I never see, it would be interesting to learn more about them as well.

[username in use]

When i first got my goby/pistol, they disapeared for about a month, and i was ****ed i blew that money. Than a small hole opened up and i started seeingt the goby poking out, only to be scared back in whenever the tang swam close by. I have since gotten rid of the tang, and now the goby sits all the way out fo the burrow on the sand right at the glass, watching me. I can cleans the outside of hte glass with my hand waving less than an inch from him and he doesnt even flinch. The pistol shrimp is always working, and every now and then comes all the way out of the hole. Im not sure what species either are, the goby is white with red vertical stripes that slant toward the front, and the shrimp is mostly pink with a purple marbling all over, both pink and purple are a pastel and are very pretty. I would say that they are perfect for a more reclusive style tank, without too much action. They defenitly reward the patient aquarist. Remember "The penetint man will pass"

[rendogg]

I forgot, I have a very large pistol in one of my tanks downstairs that I have never ID'd (odd for me). It's about 3" long has kind of a rusty/whitish mottled appearance and lives alone in his burrow. I'm not sure what would pair up with it but it looks pretty intimidating, as far as pistol shrimp go. I only see it when I feeds and it comes to the entrance of it's burrow and feeds greedily. Any thoughts?

[phurst]

I have a tiger/yellow watchman pair. They have lots of entrances to their lair, but the primary one is front and center. I see the goby all the time, and the pistol at least a couple of times a day. Always at feeding time.

[rendogg]

Originally posted by rendogg
I forgot, I have a very large pistol in one of my tanks downstairs that I have never ID'd (odd for me). It's about 3" long has kind of a rusty/whitish mottled appearance and lives alone in his burrow. I'm not sure what would pair up with it but it looks pretty intimidating, as far as pistol shrimp go. I only see it when I feed and it comes to the entrance of it's burrow and feeds greedily. Any thoughts?

[rendogg]

Sorry, not sure what happened there.

[hyperfocal]

When I had mine in a 20gal tank, I saw it all the time. Now it's in the 55gal, I never see it.

[rendogg]

I have one that lives in a Pocillipora, it's pretty sweet. The little bugger just moved from it's original colony, where I could see it anytime I wanted, into an unknown colony somewhere in my tank I wish I could still see it but i've got some pretty big Poci colonies, I still hear it snap from time to time. It's still a cool shrimp and I'd love to find another.

[dzeadow]

i've had 2 tigers that I see/saw (i traded one in) all the time, even when not paired with gobies (yellow, aurora, yashia, hi-fin) and I've had a few candy cane pistols which I see less frequently, probably once a week in casual observation

[jvdb]

My Randalli and YWG are out every morning when the lights come on, but never in the afternoon/evening. I always watch for them/feed them on Saturday and Sunday, but I don't see them the rest of the week.

As a side note; I didn't see the Pistol Shrimp for about 3 months when I first added him. The YWG came a bit later and took a couple of months to find the shrimp and pair up.

[Dave Harms]

I have a Randall's goby and a tiny pistol shrimp that I have no idea what it is. I hear it sometimes, but never see it. They aren't paired at all, the goby would probably just eat the shrimp if it ever came out.

[kevantheman35]

i see mine if im quite, but as soon as they see you outside the tank the zip into their hole together

[atoa]

I have one that's been with me for almost 5 years. He's been paired with a Yellow Watchman Goby for about a year. He's grown quite a bit. He may be close to 4".

I have at least two more pistols that came as hitchhikers with LR over a year ago. But sometimes I suspect that there could be more of them since they have caves all over the place.

One of them is really beautiful, bright blue with a tan stripe. The only time I've seen his complete body was when I introduced him to the tank. Every couple of weeks or so I'd see about a third of the body out of his hole. But as soon as he sees movement he darts back. I mostly see the antennas sticking out.

But they do a great job of keeping the sand under the rocks clean. I really think they're an important part of the clean-up crew.

-- Oliver

[mdavis203]

I ended up going with a mantis instead. He's extremely cool. I've still been keeping up with this poll, though. Interesting info for the future.

[ser_renely]

I have about 3 in my main tank, and I only see the big one once in a while.

I see the one in my fuge a lot, small guy likes to sit in my chaeto

[museumguy]

I see the antennae basically daily of mine, but I've only seen it out of the burrow one time in 18 months.

[Russ750]

I've got three (I think!), all of which came in on my rock.

The only one I really see looks similar to the tiger, but it's "pistol" claw is not nearly as prominent. This one burrows constantly. I always see him moving about his tunnels where they meet the glass of the tank, but have never once seen him come out of the sand.

The others (two, I think), are rock-dwelling. I have never seen them out of their holes. Very rarely I will catch a glimpse of a claw if I take a flashlight to the tank late at night.

I have never had a goby in the tank, so no idea if any would pair up.

[MartinEric]

Have one as a hitchhiker havent seen him in the six years he has been in the tank, but I can hear him Snap, Crackle.

[Leonardo_]

I have one hitchhiked in my LR. Seen him once (glad it wasn't a mantis) and I only hear him snapping when I feed the tank. Guess it makes him happy

Leonardo

[Sugar Magnolia]

I have a tiger pistol/yasha haze goby pair. The tiger is out all the time rearranging the entrance to their burrow. I had a Randall's pistil a fwe years ago that I rarely ever saw.

[xaoswaters]

I have a watchman goby and bullseye PS pair and I see my shrimp all the time, at first he was not out but now he's all over the place, I recommend have somewhat of a deep sandbed if you really want him to thrive, as they like to dig. Mine has built an intricate passageway under alot of my rock and he's always adjusting and cleaning out his multiple homes. I can actually feed mine by hand now it's pretty neat.

[johnike]

I have two I think!