Pistol Shrimp
Pistol Shrimp are a common offering in the marine aquarium hobby. These marine aquarium shrimp come in many different shapes and sizes in the wild and it is known that there are over 500 different species. However, only a few of them are seen in marine stores.
Most species sold in the hobby are from the genus Alpheus. This specific genus is known to pair up with gobies. The relationship is mutually benficial as the goby serves as the eyes while the pistol shrimp maintains a den that they both share.
In the wild, the goby symbiont will always be on the look out for two things, food and predators. The minute danger is spotted, they goby dives into the burrow taking the pistol shrimp along with it. The pistol shrimp on the other hand will be busy tending to the burrow and looking for food organisms in the substrate. It usualy keeps one antennae near or on the goby where it detects any sudden movements from the fish as a sign of danger.
This behavior can be seen in captivity and is one of the reasons why the pistol shrimp and goby pairs are so popular. Some of the more common and popular species of the genus alpheus are the tiger pistol shrimp pictured above and the candy cane pistol shrimp.
They will both pair up with a number of gobies and they are generally quite small. Candy cane pistol shrimp are some of the smallest as they usually top out at about an inch and a half. Some goby species that will pair up with an Alpheus pistol shrimp include :-
- Yasha Goby
- Diamond Watchman Goby
- Yellow Watchman Goby
- Hi-Fin Red Banded Goby
- Dracula Goby
- Diagonal Bar Prawn Goby
- Orange Spotted Goby
- Pink Spotted Watchman Goby
- Randall's Shrimp Goby
- Tiger Watchman Goby
- Wheeler's Watchman Goby
- Pinkbar Goby
This is not a definite list but should give you a basic idea on what goby species to go for if you are looking to obtain a pair.
As pistol shrimp are primarily scavengers and sifters of substrate to search for food, they are extremely easy to feed in captivity. They are primarily carnivores and will consume any meaty foods offered. Anything from frozen foods, freeze dried foods along with flakes and pellets are some good choices to feed them. The most convenient types of food are sinking pellets. Not only are they easy to feed, but they are usually very balanced with regards to nutrition. Some of the best pellet foods are those produced by * New Life Spectrum.
Sometimes feeding them may be difficult as their goby partner may consume all the food that is given. This is where pellets may come in handy. Not all goby species warm up to pellets, which makes pellets an invaluable food to have around when feeding a pistol shrimp.
Pistol shrimp will live their whole lives in and around their burrow. They are often heard but seldom seen. They can create a loud popping noise by creating a cavitation bubble by slamming shut their enlarged claw. This bubble can reach the temperatures of the sun very briefly. It is primarily used to stun prey or to ward of predators.
The larger the claw, the more damage the bubble makes. If you cannot find a pistol shrimp and goby pair for sale, pairing them yourself is a fairly straightforward procedure. The easiest way to do this is to introduce them to each other in a spare quarantine tank. The quarantine should not have any medication in the water and it must not have been treated with copper at anytime since copper is deadly to invertebrates. No sand substrate is needed. Simply put in some pvc pipes in one end and release both of them into that area. Upon meeting, they should pair up immediately. The tricky part is putting into your main display aquarium. It is important that they are put in the same location so they can meet up immediately. You do not want a situation where the pistol shrimp and goby wander off in different directions. One trick to this is to use a tube like container.
You should have a good idea of where you want the pistol shrimp to burrow. Upon choosing the location, dig some of the sand out in the area to produce an entrance for the shrimp. Then insert the pistol shrimp intothe glass container and put it in the designated area with the open mouth facing the burrow entrance. Let the shrimp burrow for a while and do the same with the goby. Upon meeting, they should start getting used to their new lair.
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