Tiger Pistol and Watchmen

MrBunny · 02/25/2009, 03:51 PM

Hello everyone I just got done talking to a guy from the lfs. I was asking about these guys and how they would do in a 36 gallon tank. He was telling me that they would turn over all the same in my tank per day. Is this true? and is this a huge problem? He was telling me its best to house these guys in a 50 gallon tank....

shuguley · 02/25/2009, 06:17 PM

A pistol shrimp / watchman goby combo will be fine in a 36 gallon tank. They will move a lot of sand, but I see that as a bonus because it will keep your sand nice and clean. Just be careful how you arrange your live rock/corals, you don't want stuff falling over when the pistil shrimp digs under it.

Pulp Fishin · 02/25/2009, 06:44 PM

I'm not a fan of my tiger pistol shrimp.
He is constantly moving sand over places and on things it shouldn't be.
Example, he half burried my doughnut coral in sand overnight last week because he liked the sand better there.

redheadfishlady · 02/25/2009, 07:31 PM

I had a pair in a 14 gal biocube and then upgraded them to a 40 gal tank and they did fine. I loved them before I got rid of them. My shrimp only liked one half of the tank but the goby traveled all over. Eventually the goby outgrew the tank and went crazy so I had to get rid of the pair. He ate one of my peppermint shrimp and started moving all the hermit crabs in my tank, while cracking their shells. I missed him when I got rid of him.

jlt23 · 02/25/2009, 08:00 PM

I have a pair of pistol shrimps and goby and I wish I would have not gotten them. They move a ton of sand all over the tank and they steal frags. Make sure your frags are secure.

Dweezle · 02/25/2009, 08:06 PM

My mom has a team in a 34 solona and they do just fine in there.
Pulp Fishin does have a point. My goby/shrimp team likes to steal my corals to use as building material. Anything that isn't glued down is fair game and it's surprizing how big an object these guys can pack off. In an attempt to curb this behavior, I dumped a whole gallon ziplock bag full of assorted shells in my tank. Figured if they had more shells to build with they wouldn't steal my corals. In less than 2 weeks they used every shell and built a massive bunker complex (about 12"x12"), then went right back to a life of crime. Now I just mess up part of thier burrow about once a week to keep them busy and that seems to work.
It's my firm belief that the great pyramids were infact built by shrimp/goby teams. Its just amazing how industrious they are. However, even with the random coral theft, I wouldn't trade them for the world. They are just too cool to watch.

shuguley · 02/25/2009, 08:33 PM

I love my pistol, one of the most entertaining characters in the tank, though I've only had him for like a week. All my corals are either large or glued down, so he hasn't hurt or moved any so far. He did dig a tunnell under my brain, but it hasn't hurt it. He has also ammassed a pile of empty snail shails at the entrances to his caves, It's pretty funny.

redheadfishlady · 02/25/2009, 09:47 PM

I solved the coral theft by moving all my corals on top of live rock and off my live sand. Then they left them alone and all was well. I loved watching them build. They are neat little creatures.

MrBunny · 02/26/2009, 12:35 AM

So most of the cons are.
they like to move stuff around but only if it is on the sand bed? They can collapse unstable rock formations. And yellow watch man can go crazy..

Will either of these guys out grow 36 gallon tank? and do I QT them together if already paired? and is there any special requirements for them in the qt tank such as sand or what not?

joem1cha3l · 02/26/2009, 05:34 AM

QT is tough for a shrimp/goby because they thrive in the sand. My LFS actually has this pair in a pico. I have a pair in my 29g and its my favorite part of my tank. Wouldnt trade em for anything.

bmxdad · 02/26/2009, 05:57 AM

I have them in a 29g also, they were first in a 12 nano and moved everything. when setting up the 29, I made a tunnel out of 1 inch pvc with a tee in the center faceing forward and 45's on each end. place rock on thin bed of sand, so they couldn't dig under the rock. they are fun to watch and will move big pieces of rubble around. I mess with the sand about once a week just to him busy.

MrBunny · 02/26/2009, 03:37 PM

So then you guys would suggest not qting them?

Captinshinyside · 02/26/2009, 03:56 PM

I put my combo in pistolshrimp/hi-fin goby.... They lost each other in the tank... 210. But i am certain in a week or so when the goby feels safe he will start to venture around as will the pistol shrimp and they will find each other again.

I love how the pistol shrimp will rush out of the burrow and "flex up on anything that comes by". He wont hurt them or do much except bo up on them... its like hey get away from my hole.

Or maybe he is hoping its his long lost Goby buddy. Only been in the tank for a week now.

02/25/2009, 03:51 PM	#1
MrBunny Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 240	Tiger Pistol and Watchmen Hello everyone I just got done talking to a guy from the lfs. I was asking about these guys and how they would do in a 36 gallon tank. He was telling me that they would turn over all the same in my tank per day. Is this true? and is this a huge problem? He was telling me its best to house these guys in a 50 gallon tank....

02/25/2009, 06:17 PM	#2
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	A pistol shrimp / watchman goby combo will be fine in a 36 gallon tank. They will move a lot of sand, but I see that as a bonus because it will keep your sand nice and clean. Just be careful how you arrange your live rock/corals, you don't want stuff falling over when the pistil shrimp digs under it. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

02/25/2009, 06:44 PM	#3
Pulp Fishin Were all mad here. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 608	I'm not a fan of my tiger pistol shrimp. He is constantly moving sand over places and on things it shouldn't be. Example, he half burried my doughnut coral in sand overnight last week because he liked the sand better there. __________________ Reef Central Corner Club Aquarium Dumpster Diver Extraordinaire Money talks, mine says "Good-Bye" Current Tank Info: RIP:60g Pentagon Reef 100lbs LR 20g Sump Deltec Mce 600 Mag 750 250W Metal Halide & 2x39W T5's Phosban ReactorX2 5gal refugium 36xTO RIP:135G FOWLER /Agressive

02/25/2009, 08:06 PM	#6
Dweezle Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 133	My mom has a team in a 34 solona and they do just fine in there. Pulp Fishin does have a point. My goby/shrimp team likes to steal my corals to use as building material. Anything that isn't glued down is fair game and it's surprizing how big an object these guys can pack off. In an attempt to curb this behavior, I dumped a whole gallon ziplock bag full of assorted shells in my tank. Figured if they had more shells to build with they wouldn't steal my corals. In less than 2 weeks they used every shell and built a massive bunker complex (about 12"x12"), then went right back to a life of crime. Now I just mess up part of thier burrow about once a week to keep them busy and that seems to work. It's my firm belief that the great pyramids were infact built by shrimp/goby teams. Its just amazing how industrious they are. However, even with the random coral theft, I wouldn't trade them for the world. They are just too cool to watch. __________________ Being a pessimist means you're either always right or pleasantly surprised. Current Tank Info: 75gal reef, lps and softies

02/25/2009, 08:33 PM	#7
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	I love my pistol, one of the most entertaining characters in the tank, though I've only had him for like a week. All my corals are either large or glued down, so he hasn't hurt or moved any so far. He did dig a tunnell under my brain, but it hasn't hurt it. He has also ammassed a pile of empty snail shails at the entrances to his caves, It's pretty funny. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

02/25/2009, 07:31 PM	#4
redheadfishlady Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 37	I had a pair in a 14 gal biocube and then upgraded them to a 40 gal tank and they did fine. I loved them before I got rid of them. My shrimp only liked one half of the tank but the goby traveled all over. Eventually the goby outgrew the tank and went crazy so I had to get rid of the pair. He ate one of my peppermint shrimp and started moving all the hermit crabs in my tank, while cracking their shells. I missed him when I got rid of him.

02/25/2009, 08:00 PM	#5
jlt23 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 712	I have a pair of pistol shrimps and goby and I wish I would have not gotten them. They move a ton of sand all over the tank and they steal frags. Make sure your frags are secure.

02/25/2009, 09:47 PM	#8
redheadfishlady Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 37	I solved the coral theft by moving all my corals on top of live rock and off my live sand. Then they left them alone and all was well. I loved watching them build. They are neat little creatures.

02/26/2009, 12:35 AM	#9
MrBunny Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 240	So most of the cons are. they like to move stuff around but only if it is on the sand bed? They can collapse unstable rock formations. And yellow watch man can go crazy.. Will either of these guys out grow 36 gallon tank? and do I QT them together if already paired? and is there any special requirements for them in the qt tank such as sand or what not?

02/26/2009, 05:34 AM	#10
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	QT is tough for a shrimp/goby because they thrive in the sand. My LFS actually has this pair in a pico. I have a pair in my 29g and its my favorite part of my tank. Wouldnt trade em for anything. __________________ IM10G Nano - MP10, AI Nano, RKL

02/26/2009, 05:57 AM	#11
bmxdad Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 79	team I have them in a 29g also, they were first in a 12 nano and moved everything. when setting up the 29, I made a tunnel out of 1 inch pvc with a tee in the center faceing forward and 45's on each end. place rock on thin bed of sand, so they couldn't dig under the rock. they are fun to watch and will move big pieces of rubble around. I mess with the sand about once a week just to him busy.

02/26/2009, 03:37 PM	#12
MrBunny Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 240	So then you guys would suggest not qting them?

02/26/2009, 03:56 PM	#13
Captinshinyside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 176	I put my combo in pistolshrimp/hi-fin goby.... They lost each other in the tank... 210. But i am certain in a week or so when the goby feels safe he will start to venture around as will the pistol shrimp and they will find each other again. I love how the pistol shrimp will rush out of the burrow and "flex up on anything that comes by". He wont hurt them or do much except bo up on them... its like hey get away from my hole. Or maybe he is hoping its his long lost Goby buddy. Only been in the tank for a week now.