Anyone own a pistol shrimp?

[btldreef]

I need to ask some questions to someone that actually owns one, not just reads about them. Anyone on here own one and have it paired with a goby?

 

[johnr2604]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3174086
I need to ask some questions to someone that actually owns one, not just reads about them. Anyone on here own one and have it paired with a goby?
Yep, I have a watchman pistol pair

 

[shrimpy brains]

I have 3 tiger pistol shrimp, and one hi-fin/barbershop goby. Used to have 2 gobies, but I lost one during upgrade(90g to 125g). (going to get at least one moreof the gobies) Thought they would share homes wih different shrimp, but ended up with 2 gobies and 1 pistol in 1 home and 2 pistols on their own. lol

 

[cajonez]

watchman and randalli pistol here

 

[gamewarden]

I have a Tiger and a Yellow watchman, they are always together and are a blast to watch.

 

[btldreef]

So my questions for you guys:
Are they more nocturnal? I have yet to see mine, but I hear him constantly.
What type of CUC do you have with yours? I have a Randalli that is paired with a Yasha goby.
What do you feed them?
For the Randalli owners: How fast did yours grow?
The pair is in a 14G BioCube by themselves, what else would you put in there, fish/inverts?

 

[johnr2604]

I rarely see my pistol. I know he's there because I hear him at night. I just keep a normal CUC like hermits and snails. I do replenish them every so often. I would not house other shrimp with them such as cleaners.

 

[cajonez]

I rarely see my pistol either, but I wouldn't really call him noctural, just shy. The watchman sticks his head out of the burrow all day and if i stare long enough at the tank I might catch the pistol carrying out a rock.
Normal cleanup crew, with 2 cleaners, never had any problems.
When I feed mysis/squid I usually shoot a little down the burrow for the pair.
I have had my randalli for about 2 months and have not noticed any growth, but then again I rarely ever see it.

 

[johnr2604]

Originally Posted by cajonez
http:///forum/post/3174289
I rarely see my pistol either, but I wouldn't really call him noctural, just shy. The watchman sticks his head out of the burrow all day and if i stare long enough at the tank I might catch the pistol carrying out a rock.
Normal cleanup crew, with 2 cleaners, never had any problems.
When I feed mysis/squid I usually shoot a little down the burrow for the pair.
I have had my randalli for about 2 months and have not noticed any growth, but then again I rarely ever see it.
It actually took about 4 or 5 months before mine ate my cleaner but he did. Its there natural food in the wild.

 

[cajonez]

My cleaners are twice the size of my pistol too, that probably helps with not getting killed.

 

[racingtiger03]

I had a tiger/watchman pair as well. Mine pistol was active some during the day, but mostly after lights out. Sometimes at night I could catch him out near the top/middle of the LR in the tank.
Occasionally it would come out during the day to re-arrange shells and small rocks in front of its cave lol.

 

[shrimpy brains]

Well, just one of mine is in a good spot and I can see him "maintaining" his burrow, in and out with clawfuls of whatever and smoothing out the entrance. They do seem to be more active at night as you can hear them clicking away, but are bust all day. My conclusion is they sleep some in day and some at night.
About once a week, I toss in a couple of shrimp pellets. I try to get them near the hole, and they shoot out like lightning to get the pellets. I don't have a cleaner, but I do have a cbs and at least 1 peppermint shrimp. I know I put 4 peps in there. I'm not sure if the pistols ate them or not, but I have had them together for at least 2 years, and they haven't touched the cbs or the last pep. Not saying it's ok to put them together just my experience. Also, this is a 125g, so hiding places are many.

 

[btldreef]

Thanks for all the answers guys I'll try to take a pic of where my shrimp is, then you'll know why I'm so mad at him, LOL

 

[shrimpy brains]

Oh, I have snails and hermits. Don't really notice losse there. I can't seem to keep emeralds(or they just stay hidden) but I have had this issue longer than I've had the pistols. Keep in mind, I have 3 pistols. I may have trouble in the future, but I still think that their bad reputation is due to confusion with the snapping of the mantis shrimp.

JMO.

 

[btldreef]

Yeah, I think they get an unfairly bad reputation. My tank is a pistol/goby biocube. A few hermits, snails and an emerald are in there, thinking about a peppermint. Not going to be much else in the tank. Maybe a clown and an anemone or something like that. I just really wanted a Yasha goby and it's paired shrimp, lol.

 

[shrimpy brains]

Yeah, the Yasha goby is a fantastic looking fish!! I was just too cheap to get one. lol I like my barbershops though! How bout a pic of yours!!

 

[gamewarden]

my tiger comes out some during the day but never ventures far from one of his burrows. When he does come out it looks like the watchman rides on his back.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3174642
Yeah, the Yasha goby is a fantastic looking fish!! I was just too cheap to get one. lol I like my barbershops though! How bout a pic of yours!!
I need better pics, but here's what I got so far ...

 

[shrimpy brains]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3174652
I need better pics, but here's what I got so far ...

Sooo Cool!!

 

[straydog]

Mine deserve the bad reputation award.I bought a mated pair of japanese pistols,and put them in my 10 gallon reef tank with a neon and yellow watchman goby , both gobies are MIA (beleve they were eaten) only fish left is a pajama cardinal!