do you feed your pistol shrimp?

neotekz · 05/11/2006, 03:24 PM

i've had mine for about 6 months now and i try to feed him small pieces of shrimp every few days, he's doing great. do u need to feed them or can they just find food on their own? i ask this because i'm going on vacation for a week soon and i found someone to feed and top off my tank but i don;t want to ask him to feed my pistol shrimp too since this can be tricky, the watchman goby likes to steal its food. i'm pretty sure he;ll be fine without spot feeding for a week but i was just courious about how others keep their pistols.

SDguy · 05/11/2006, 03:35 PM

I think I've fed my pistol a dozen or so times in the last two years. Rarely does food get to the bottom, so really not sure what he's eating. Anyway, to the point, I wouldn't worry at all about feeding your shrimp during your vacation.

IPowderBlueTang · 05/11/2006, 04:42 PM

I have a tiger pistol shrimp and never seen him eat, his buddy the Yellow watchman goby always grabs food when it floats by the cave opening. I have seen the shrimp running around the tank at night when all lights are out. I guess its foraging for food then.
So I would not worry if you go on vacation as long as the person is feeding your tank!

Big Ying · 05/11/2006, 07:53 PM

I've had one for two years and never feed him, or any other shrimp I have either. They seem to scavenge for food and get by just fine in a normal reef tank.

05/11/2006, 03:24 PM	#1
neotekz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ottawa, Ontario Posts: 698	do you feed your pistol shrimp? i've had mine for about 6 months now and i try to feed him small pieces of shrimp every few days, he's doing great. do u need to feed them or can they just find food on their own? i ask this because i'm going on vacation for a week soon and i found someone to feed and top off my tank but i don;t want to ask him to feed my pistol shrimp too since this can be tricky, the watchman goby likes to steal its food. i'm pretty sure he;ll be fine without spot feeding for a week but i was just courious about how others keep their pistols.

05/11/2006, 03:35 PM	#2
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I think I've fed my pistol a dozen or so times in the last two years. Rarely does food get to the bottom, so really not sure what he's eating. Anyway, to the point, I wouldn't worry at all about feeding your shrimp during your vacation. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

05/11/2006, 07:53 PM	#4
Big Ying Unconventional Wisdom Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Port Charlotte, Fl Posts: 162	I've had one for two years and never feed him, or any other shrimp I have either. They seem to scavenge for food and get by just fine in a normal reef tank. __________________ Big Ying Current Tank Info: 55 gal reef, 29 gal Fl Keys Biotope, 125 gal fowler, 10 gal Gulf of Mexico Biotope

05/11/2006, 04:42 PM	#3
IPowderBlueTang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Canada Posts: 769	I have a tiger pistol shrimp and never seen him eat, his buddy the Yellow watchman goby always grabs food when it floats by the cave opening. I have seen the shrimp running around the tank at night when all lights are out. I guess its foraging for food then. So I would not worry if you go on vacation as long as the person is feeding your tank!