Lets See your Prawn Goby and Pistol Shrimp Pair! post pics here.

lildraken · 07/29/2010, 07:49 PM

Watching the symbiotic relationship between a pistol shrimp and goby is such a fascinating thing. Previously, I've always taken people's word for it that the colorful Michael's pistol shrimp (bullseye pistol shrimp) Does not pair with a goby but recently I found that mine lives with a blue spot goby very happily.
In this industry, you can learn a lot from what people tell you but many times you have to see with your own eyes before you believe it. There is one online store that advertises that Alpheus armatus shrimps will pair with a goby but I've never seen it, and when I questioned them, they responded that they certainly do and they even have a pair. I always thought they were symbiotic with anemones of the Caribbean.
It would be nice to have a library of Pistol Shrimp and Goby Pairing records on reef central. Lets see your goby / shrimp pair!.... plus, it gives us an excuse to show off our pictures.

If you can, please identify the species.

lildraken · 07/29/2010, 08:02 PM

[IMG]http://i29.*******.com/2z7okkk.jpg[/IMG]
Blue Spot Goby + Bullseye pistol shrimp

LIONFISH5740 · 07/30/2010, 07:15 AM

Love them!

We have purchased a snapping shrimp (Alpheus sp.) from an online source. It has different colors than the one in the pic but is beautiful and fun to watch. It is a voracious eater and likes to snap at me when i'm in the tank cleaning the glass or putting in new corals. In fact it has molted twice in the month or so that we've had it. We haven't got a goby yet to pair with him but are keeping an eye out for just the right one

One of the funnier things that we have seen is it chasing our clown fish around a coral trying to take the fishes food from him.

LIONFISH5740 · 07/30/2010, 07:29 AM

Forgot to add a pic if you care.

inselaffe · 07/30/2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lildraken

[IMG]http://i29.*******.com/2z7okkk.jpg[/IMG]
Blue Spot Goby + Bullseye pistol shrimp

I was always told bullseyes wont host with a goby (which yours does) or is this only the bullseyes with the purple claws?

lildraken · 07/31/2010, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inselaffe

I was always told bullseyes wont host with a goby (which yours does) or is this only the bullseyes with the purple claws?

I'm not sure. Hopefully someone will post a pic of an Alpheus soror with purple claws paired with a goby.

This pair is not as closely knit as my other pair.
[IMG]http://i25.*******.com/709pis.jpg[/IMG]This one with a very large Blue spot watchman and his tiger pistol shrimp. They are very dependent of each other. The tiger pistol is almost blind whereas the bullseye pistol seems to have better eye sight. They will often move about independent of each other but will share the same cave and tolerate one another. I've never seen the BP shovel sand and he sometimes moves about the rock work.

The Tiger pistol and the BSW are almost inseparable except when the goby sees food and darts out of the hole after it. I've never seen my Tiger Pistol leave the sand bed to explore the rockwork.

inselaffe · 08/07/2010, 06:16 AM

thats interesting to know, i might buy one then one day. I have a randals on order to go with my yasha in my nano.

small alien · 11/06/2010, 08:14 PM

Anyone else?

Gill_bucket · 11/06/2010, 10:39 PM

Gill_bucket · 11/06/2010, 10:53 PM

fdonophan · 07/21/2011, 08:00 AM

My watchman goby has actually befriended my banded serpent star - its the oddest thing! It paces in front of it, and passes food back to it. I'll try to get a pic tonight when I feed them.

small alien · 07/21/2011, 08:36 AM

Please do. That sounds awesome.

fdonophan · 07/21/2011, 09:25 AM

I had to swap to a new tank last week, and since they were the last critters to be scooped, they bunked in the same tupperware for a few hours. Once the star settled somewhere, the goby snuggled up between two tentacles and they stayed that way. They are both very small - the serpent's body an inch or so, and the goby maybe 1.5"

They are in a tough spot to photograph, but I'll do my best!

fdonophan · 07/25/2011, 03:23 PM

I haven't forgotten you guys, I just can't CATCH them! They were all cozied up in a perfectly visible cave this afternoon, and I swear in the 2 seconds I turned my back to grab my camera the goby had wandered off somewhere...

I'll sneak a pic soon as I can!

fdonophan · 07/29/2011, 10:55 PM

As promised - the goby and the serpent star! It took me FOREVER to catch a good picture...the goby has gotten familiar enough with me that he doesn't dart out of sight as soon as he sees me...

cjtice · 07/30/2011, 06:42 AM

This is my Wheelers and Tiger This pair is awesome! They set up shop right in front center of my 90 and are always ready to welcome me.

I recently lost this pair, the pistol disappeared so I got a new one. He then disappeared then a month later the goby disappeared. I wonder if there is something in the tank (30g) cause I also had a brittle star disappear durring the same time.

It was Id'd as a YWG here.

Just2Many · 07/30/2011, 06:46 AM

That is so cool!!

Anyone have a diamond goby hosted?

Yurivd · 07/30/2011, 08:47 AM

How old do pistol shrimps get
My bullseye pistol shrimp has been in my tank for ofer 2 years now

jlanger · 07/30/2011, 08:47 AM

Here's a pic of our Randall's Goby that is paired with a Tiger pistol shrimp.

-JASON

Bongo Shrimp · 07/30/2011, 04:43 PM

Not sure if this is really a "prawn Goby" but...

reefjunkie42 · 07/30/2011, 06:03 PM

I couldn't snag a pic of the pistol shrimp, he's very very tiny, but here is my dracula goby pair. love these guys

ssavader · 07/30/2011, 07:44 PM

fdonophan, that is so awesome, the need to survive can make for strange bed-fellows.

antimatter · 07/31/2011, 02:20 PM

are the odds pretty high of them pairing up? i am setting up a 12g and want to try it out

Just2Many · 07/31/2011, 08:28 PM

I love those dracula pair.

reefjunkie42 · 07/31/2011, 09:08 PM

antimatter-are you referring to my gobies? if so yes they are a pair with different coloration, the differences are faint but noticeable

Just2many-Thanks! they are easily my favorite fish, if i wasn't addicted to wrasses that is lol

07/29/2010, 07:49 PM	#1
lildraken Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ft lauderdale, florida Posts: 433	Lets See your Prawn Goby and Pistol Shrimp Pair! post pics here. Watching the symbiotic relationship between a pistol shrimp and goby is such a fascinating thing. Previously, I've always taken people's word for it that the colorful Michael's pistol shrimp (bullseye pistol shrimp) Does not pair with a goby but recently I found that mine lives with a blue spot goby very happily. In this industry, you can learn a lot from what people tell you but many times you have to see with your own eyes before you believe it. There is one online store that advertises that Alpheus armatus shrimps will pair with a goby but I've never seen it, and when I questioned them, they responded that they certainly do and they even have a pair. I always thought they were symbiotic with anemones of the Caribbean. It would be nice to have a library of Pistol Shrimp and Goby Pairing records on reef central. Lets see your goby / shrimp pair!.... plus, it gives us an excuse to show off our pictures. If you can, please identify the species. __________________ "All that I know is that I know nothing"... Socrates Current Tank Info: 110 gal w/ 30 gal sump/ refugium, octopus skimmer, 6x54w T-5 fixture; 55 gal freshwater w/ Butterfly Tail dragon eye goldfish

07/29/2010, 08:02 PM	#2
lildraken Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ft lauderdale, florida Posts: 433	Michael's pistol shrimp and blue spot goby pair [IMG]http://i29.*******.com/2z7okkk.jpg[/IMG] Blue Spot Goby + Bullseye pistol shrimp __________________ "All that I know is that I know nothing"... Socrates Current Tank Info: 110 gal w/ 30 gal sump/ refugium, octopus skimmer, 6x54w T-5 fixture; 55 gal freshwater w/ Butterfly Tail dragon eye goldfish

11/06/2010, 08:14 PM	#8
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	Anyone else? __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

07/21/2011, 08:00 AM	#11
fdonophan Franimal Join Date: May 2008 Location: Suncoast of Florida Posts: 453	My watchman goby has actually befriended my banded serpent star - its the oddest thing! It paces in front of it, and passes food back to it. I'll try to get a pic tonight when I feed them. __________________ -Fran Do not dumb here. Not dumb area here. Current Tank Info: Ecopico Office Reef

07/21/2011, 08:36 AM	#12
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	Please do. That sounds awesome. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

07/30/2010, 07:15 AM	#3
LIONFISH5740 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 32	Love them! We have purchased a snapping shrimp (Alpheus sp.) from an online source. It has different colors than the one in the pic but is beautiful and fun to watch. It is a voracious eater and likes to snap at me when i'm in the tank cleaning the glass or putting in new corals. In fact it has molted twice in the month or so that we've had it. We haven't got a goby yet to pair with him but are keeping an eye out for just the right one One of the funnier things that we have seen is it chasing our clown fish around a coral trying to take the fishes food from him.

07/30/2010, 07:29 AM	#4
LIONFISH5740 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 32	Forgot to add a pic if you care.

08/07/2010, 06:16 AM	#7
inselaffe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 116	thats interesting to know, i might buy one then one day. I have a randals on order to go with my yasha in my nano.

11/06/2010, 10:39 PM	#9
Gill_bucket Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 547

11/06/2010, 10:53 PM	#10
Gill_bucket Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 547

07/21/2011, 09:25 AM	#13
fdonophan Franimal Join Date: May 2008 Location: Suncoast of Florida Posts: 453	I had to swap to a new tank last week, and since they were the last critters to be scooped, they bunked in the same tupperware for a few hours. Once the star settled somewhere, the goby snuggled up between two tentacles and they stayed that way. They are both very small - the serpent's body an inch or so, and the goby maybe 1.5" They are in a tough spot to photograph, but I'll do my best! __________________ -Fran Do not dumb here. Not dumb area here. Current Tank Info: Ecopico Office Reef

07/25/2011, 03:23 PM	#14
fdonophan Franimal Join Date: May 2008 Location: Suncoast of Florida Posts: 453	I haven't forgotten you guys, I just can't CATCH them! They were all cozied up in a perfectly visible cave this afternoon, and I swear in the 2 seconds I turned my back to grab my camera the goby had wandered off somewhere... I'll sneak a pic soon as I can! __________________ -Fran Do not dumb here. Not dumb area here. Current Tank Info: Ecopico Office Reef

07/29/2011, 10:55 PM	#15
fdonophan Franimal Join Date: May 2008 Location: Suncoast of Florida Posts: 453	As promised - the goby and the serpent star! It took me FOREVER to catch a good picture...the goby has gotten familiar enough with me that he doesn't dart out of sight as soon as he sees me... __________________ -Fran Do not dumb here. Not dumb area here. Current Tank Info: Ecopico Office Reef

07/30/2011, 06:42 AM	#16
cjtice Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 303	This is my Wheelers and Tiger This pair is awesome! They set up shop right in front center of my 90 and are always ready to welcome me. I recently lost this pair, the pistol disappeared so I got a new one. He then disappeared then a month later the goby disappeared. I wonder if there is something in the tank (30g) cause I also had a brittle star disappear durring the same time. It was Id'd as a YWG here. Last edited by cjtice; 07/30/2011 at 06:44 AM. Reason: Fixed link

07/30/2011, 06:46 AM	#17
Just2Many I love Saltwater! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallmadge, Ohio Posts: 1,063	That is so cool!! Anyone have a diamond goby hosted? __________________ "Quality only happens when you care enough to do your best." Current Tank Info: Small Ocean

07/30/2011, 08:47 AM	#18
Yurivd Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: PTA South Africa Posts: 898	How old do pistol shrimps get My bullseye pistol shrimp has been in my tank for ofer 2 years now

07/30/2011, 08:47 AM	#19
jlanger Get busy living... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 406	Here's a pic of our Randall's Goby that is paired with a Tiger pistol shrimp. -JASON

07/30/2011, 04:43 PM	#20
Bongo Shrimp P. ceratophthalma Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,637	Not sure if this is really a "prawn Goby" but... __________________ 75g Rainfordia Project

07/30/2011, 06:03 PM	#21
reefjunkie42 Wrasse junkie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Buxton Posts: 2,148	I couldn't snag a pic of the pistol shrimp, he's very very tiny, but here is my dracula goby pair. love these guys

07/30/2011, 07:44 PM	#22
ssavader Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Carmel, IN (Indianapolis suburb) Posts: 953	fdonophan, that is so awesome, the need to survive can make for strange bed-fellows. __________________ Scott

07/31/2011, 02:20 PM	#23
antimatter Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 100	are the odds pretty high of them pairing up? i am setting up a 12g and want to try it out

07/31/2011, 08:28 PM	#24
Just2Many I love Saltwater! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallmadge, Ohio Posts: 1,063	I love those dracula pair. __________________ "Quality only happens when you care enough to do your best." Current Tank Info: Small Ocean

07/31/2011, 09:08 PM	#25
reefjunkie42 Wrasse junkie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Buxton Posts: 2,148	antimatter-are you referring to my gobies? if so yes they are a pair with different coloration, the differences are faint but noticeable Just2many-Thanks! they are easily my favorite fish, if i wasn't addicted to wrasses that is lol __________________ Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in... Current Tank Info: 60g SPS reef

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