Pistol Shrimp gone missing... Please HELP!!

jrdn_fox · 08/12/2013, 11:37 AM

Hey guys,

Well this is my first post and as you can see I am missing my pistol shrimp. :/ The tank is a month old 57 gallon reef tank and I added a Yasha goby and Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp about a week and a half ago. They weren't paired from the LFS but after I put them in the tank, they paired right up within 48 hours.

The first night I had them (before being paired) my shrimp came out on his own, and even after they paired I saw the shrimp behind the goby at feeding times and would sometimes catch him building the first (and only) burrow they have right now, but this lasted only the first two days and this is where my concern lies.

I haven't seen my Pistol Shrimp in about a week, and I was wondering if it was common to see the goby without the shrimp even at feeding times? He hasn't come out for food and last night I tried to spot him with the flashlight but on the goby's head was protruding out of their burrow. I do hear a snap or two every once and awhile but its nothing continous so I think it's my mind playing tricks on me. Plus the goby hides at all times so it makes me feel like his partner died. So should I fear the worst and say my Pistol has kicked the bucket or should I still have faith?

P.S. did anyone else experience their shrimp not always coming out during feeding??

Sugar Magnolia · 08/12/2013, 11:55 AM

I can go days/week or so without seeing my pistol. It's under there building tunnels. Check your tank at night.

jrdn_fox · 08/12/2013, 12:06 PM

Ok, but even with seeing the goby you may still not see the shrimp??

Sugar Magnolia · 08/12/2013, 12:14 PM

Yes. My goby is out most of the time.

jrdn_fox · 08/12/2013, 12:18 PM

Ok awesome!! thank you!! you have giving me much needed piece of mind lol

Fish Biscuit · 08/13/2013, 09:56 AM

I don't always see my pistol either. It's possible that he molted & will be MIA for a few days.

HumbleFish · 08/13/2013, 10:56 AM

I added a pistol shrimp months ago and still haven't seen him. The only reason I know he's still alive is I'll hear some snaps every so often.

leveldrummer · 08/13/2013, 11:43 AM

If your tank sits on a stand that doesnt have a solid top surface, sometimes you can take a flash light and peek up through the bottom of the glass and catch a glimpse of them, its a long shot, but it might work, or just listen for that snapping sound, especially around dark.

also dont be afraid to squirt a little food into its hole with a turkey baster or something, just be gentle.

jrdn_fox · 08/16/2013, 05:34 PM

The mystery of the pistol shrimp has been solved!!! UNFORTUNATELY it is a mantis shrimp.... It has taken over the burrow the pistol shrimp built and so I think it's safe to say he has claimed the little guys life too.

I have a trap set now so lets hope I catch this mantis so I can return him to the LFS and get a goby/pistol relationship going again, like I originally wanted! (I run this tank, not this mantis shrimp lol)

One question I have is if the mantis did take over the burrow and kill the pistol shrimp is it safe to assume he has killed the yasha goby as well?? I feel like since they where paired the yasha would have tried to also defend the shrimp and their home and in return suffered the mantis's rath.

Either way once I have caught this mantis I'm going to make sure I hear no more snapping and then get another pistol first. That way if the yasha is still in there he will find the new shrimp and begin to venture out again.

jrdn_fox · 08/16/2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

If your tank sits on a stand that doesnt have a solid top surface, sometimes you can take a flash light and peek up through the bottom of the glass and catch a glimpse of them, its a long shot, but it might work, or just listen for that snapping sound, especially around dark.

also dont be afraid to squirt a little food into its hole with a turkey baster or something, just be gentle.

Hey thanks for the suggestion! And yea actually my tank does have a glass bottom I can see through the stand!! I actually used this technique when I first put the little guy in there to find out where he made his burrow and I was able to see him digging, and that's actually one of the reasons I was so concerned!! Cause after those first couple days when I would look under I saw no new tunnels or movement. Then after a week of this and not seeing him I feared the worst! :/

robotman · 08/16/2013, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrdn_fox

Ok awesome!! thank you!! you have giving me much needed piece of mind lol

i have 2 goby and pistol pairs in my 55, fortuantely i saw them the next day within the hour coming in and out making their burrows, they will hide, and they are sensitive to movement, either by eyesight or by the goby warning them as soon as they see you, so they could be hiding in the shadow, i see mine perching in their burrow deep with their tentacles poking out and the goby will wiggle its tail and *poof* there goes the pistol, no worries mate!

08/12/2013, 11:37 AM	#1
jrdn_fox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 9	Pistol Shrimp gone missing... Please HELP!! Hey guys, Well this is my first post and as you can see I am missing my pistol shrimp. :/ The tank is a month old 57 gallon reef tank and I added a Yasha goby and Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp about a week and a half ago. They weren't paired from the LFS but after I put them in the tank, they paired right up within 48 hours. The first night I had them (before being paired) my shrimp came out on his own, and even after they paired I saw the shrimp behind the goby at feeding times and would sometimes catch him building the first (and only) burrow they have right now, but this lasted only the first two days and this is where my concern lies. I haven't seen my Pistol Shrimp in about a week, and I was wondering if it was common to see the goby without the shrimp even at feeding times? He hasn't come out for food and last night I tried to spot him with the flashlight but on the goby's head was protruding out of their burrow. I do hear a snap or two every once and awhile but its nothing continous so I think it's my mind playing tricks on me. Plus the goby hides at all times so it makes me feel like his partner died. So should I fear the worst and say my Pistol has kicked the bucket or should I still have faith? P.S. did anyone else experience their shrimp not always coming out during feeding??

08/12/2013, 11:55 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I can go days/week or so without seeing my pistol. It's under there building tunnels. Check your tank at night. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/12/2013, 12:14 PM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes. My goby is out most of the time. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/13/2013, 09:56 AM	#6
Fish Biscuit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,164	I don't always see my pistol either. It's possible that he molted & will be MIA for a few days. __________________ Michele I enjoy vodka entirely too much to share with the fish. Current Tank Info: 65 rimless with Eshopps R200 sump, current inhabitants randall goby, helfrichi, possum wrasse, barnacle blenny, mandarin, pistol, peppermint, & fire shrimp, snails, hermits, & LPS

08/16/2013, 05:34 PM	#9
jrdn_fox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 9	It's a fish, it's a pistol shrimp, no it's a mantis shrimp..... The mystery of the pistol shrimp has been solved!!! UNFORTUNATELY it is a mantis shrimp.... It has taken over the burrow the pistol shrimp built and so I think it's safe to say he has claimed the little guys life too. I have a trap set now so lets hope I catch this mantis so I can return him to the LFS and get a goby/pistol relationship going again, like I originally wanted! (I run this tank, not this mantis shrimp lol) One question I have is if the mantis did take over the burrow and kill the pistol shrimp is it safe to assume he has killed the yasha goby as well?? I feel like since they where paired the yasha would have tried to also defend the shrimp and their home and in return suffered the mantis's rath. Either way once I have caught this mantis I'm going to make sure I hear no more snapping and then get another pistol first. That way if the yasha is still in there he will find the new shrimp and begin to venture out again.

08/12/2013, 12:06 PM	#3
jrdn_fox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 9	Ok, but even with seeing the goby you may still not see the shrimp??

08/12/2013, 12:18 PM	#5
jrdn_fox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 9	Ok awesome!! thank you!! you have giving me much needed piece of mind lol

08/13/2013, 10:56 AM	#7
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	I added a pistol shrimp *months ago* and still haven't seen him. The only reason I know he's still alive is I'll hear some snaps every so often.

08/13/2013, 11:43 AM	#8
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	If your tank sits on a stand that doesnt have a solid top surface, sometimes you can take a flash light and peek up through the bottom of the glass and catch a glimpse of them, its a long shot, but it might work, or just listen for that snapping sound, especially around dark. also dont be afraid to squirt a little food into its hole with a turkey baster or something, just be gentle.