Question about pairing goby and pistol shrimp

jherrin215 · 12/24/2009, 12:47 AM

I have gotten my tank up and running finally and have had great results with the fish I've introduced, (all from a previous tank). Now I'm ready to start adding. I want a pistol shrimp and goby pair but I'm not sure how to go about this. Is it pretty much guaranteed if I buy a pistol shrimp and then buy a shrimp pairing goby they will eventually just find each other and pair up, or is it more involved than that?? The main reason I ask is because Divers Den has a pair for sale but I hate to spend 85 dollars with shipping when I can drive on a little road trip and pick up the pair for probably 40. Please give me some advice on the best way to go about this!! TIA!!
Josh

A sea K · 12/24/2009, 07:48 AM

That is certainly the easiest way to go about it but it does come at additional expense. Not exactly fool proof either, they can easily get seperated when placing them in the tank. One other option would be to get seperates and place them in a small tank basically forcing them to find each other, once together for a bit transfer them to the main tank and you should be good to go.
All my gobies have eventually found the shrimp, some just took longer than others. The main issue I have experienced is neither the shrimp or the gobie are very happy or settled in until they find one another. It is during this period that they are most likely to jump ship. Once together they both get bolder and will spend more time in the open if they have friendly tankmates.

jherrin215 · 12/24/2009, 09:59 AM

That sounds like encouraging words. I think I am going to try getting them individually and maybe just be patient and let them sort things out. Will an orange diamond goby pair up with a pistol, or does it need to be a watchmen of some type?

swamprat · 12/24/2009, 02:34 PM

They will eventually find each other but where they settle on calling home may disappoint you. I bought a pair for my 14 gal and they found each other right away but decided to build their burrow between the back wall and the rocks so I would see the goby at feeding time and had to look behind the rocks if I ever wanted to see the shrimp.

jherrin215 · 12/25/2009, 07:21 AM

Yeah, hopefully it won't work out like that, but who knows, probably will

swamprat · 12/25/2009, 09:40 AM

Go Colts, I forgot to mention that earlier.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A sea K · 12/25/2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jherrin215

That sounds like encouraging words. I think I am going to try getting them individually and maybe just be patient and let them sort things out. Will an orange diamond goby pair up with a pistol, or does it need to be a watchmen of some type?

Look into this matchup further, pretty sure the Diamond is a sandsifter and one of the true shrimp gobies would probably be a better match.

jherrin215 · 12/25/2009, 09:26 PM

yeah that seems to be what I'm finding. I think I am going to get me a diamond and get me a shrimpgoby to pair up with the shrimp!! And that's right rat!! GO COLTS!!!

Sk8r · 12/25/2009, 09:28 PM

Only one caveat: if you have or want firefish, do not get a shrimp goby: they will try to take its burrow and it will kill them.

jherrin215 · 12/25/2009, 10:21 PM

well thanks sk8r, i haven't heard that before. so I should be ok with a diamond goby and some type of watchman and a pistol shrimp though right??

12/24/2009, 12:47 AM	#1
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	Question about pairing goby and pistol shrimp I have gotten my tank up and running finally and have had great results with the fish I've introduced, (all from a previous tank). Now I'm ready to start adding. I want a pistol shrimp and goby pair but I'm not sure how to go about this. Is it pretty much guaranteed if I buy a pistol shrimp and then buy a shrimp pairing goby they will eventually just find each other and pair up, or is it more involved than that?? The main reason I ask is because Divers Den has a pair for sale but I hate to spend 85 dollars with shipping when I can drive on a little road trip and pick up the pair for probably 40. Please give me some advice on the best way to go about this!! TIA!! Josh

12/24/2009, 07:48 AM	#2
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	That is certainly the easiest way to go about it but it does come at additional expense. Not exactly fool proof either, they can easily get seperated when placing them in the tank. One other option would be to get seperates and place them in a small tank basically forcing them to find each other, once together for a bit transfer them to the main tank and you should be good to go. All my gobies have eventually found the shrimp, some just took longer than others. The main issue I have experienced is neither the shrimp or the gobie are very happy or settled in until they find one another. It is during this period that they are most likely to jump ship. Once together they both get bolder and will spend more time in the open if they have friendly tankmates. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

12/25/2009, 09:28 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Only one caveat: if you have or want firefish, do not get a shrimp goby: they will try to take its burrow and it will kill them. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/24/2009, 09:59 AM	#3
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	That sounds like encouraging words. I think I am going to try getting them individually and maybe just be patient and let them sort things out. Will an orange diamond goby pair up with a pistol, or does it need to be a watchmen of some type?

12/24/2009, 02:34 PM	#4
swamprat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 63	They will eventually find each other but where they settle on calling home may disappoint you. I bought a pair for my 14 gal and they found each other right away but decided to build their burrow between the back wall and the rocks so I would see the goby at feeding time and had to look behind the rocks if I ever wanted to see the shrimp.

12/25/2009, 07:21 AM	#5
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	Yeah, hopefully it won't work out like that, but who knows, probably will

12/25/2009, 09:40 AM	#6
swamprat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 63	Go Colts, I forgot to mention that earlier.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/25/2009, 09:26 PM	#8
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	yeah that seems to be what I'm finding. I think I am going to get me a diamond and get me a shrimpgoby to pair up with the shrimp!! And that's right rat!! GO COLTS!!!

12/25/2009, 10:21 PM	#10
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	well thanks sk8r, i haven't heard that before. so I should be ok with a diamond goby and some type of watchman and a pistol shrimp though right??