Goby/Pistol shrimp compatibility...

mxkris

Member
I have always seen pistol shrimp paired up with "shrimp gobies" like watchmen, and barber shop and what not... but my question is will they pair with an Orange Diamond Sleeper Goby?
I'm asking because I just switched from CC to sand and i'm looking for something that will do a lot of sand sifting. I've heard the Sleepers are the best at doing a big area, not just their little territory.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by mxkris
http:///forum/post/3205641
I have always seen pistol shrimp paired up with "shrimp gobies" like watchmen, and barber shop and what not... but my question is will they pair with an Orange Diamond Sleeper Goby?
I'm asking because I just switched from CC to sand and i'm looking for something that will do a lot of sand sifting. I've heard the Sleepers are the best at doing a big area, not just their little territory.

It's 50/50. The Diamond Goby that you speak of is actually one of the watchmen species but it depends on whether it will pair or not.
The easiest way to get them to pair is if their placed in a smaller container inside your tank together (those plastic hamster carriers with the flourescent vented tops work great).
Usually with the Diamond, they spend so much time sifting sand that they don't really watch the burrow enough for the pistol shrimps liking.
Pistols don't have to be paired. I actually bought a goby/shrimp pair and they unpaired once I put them in my tank. I have two pistols and a goby and all three have their own burrows. I hardly ever see my pistol shrimps (as you'll hear many people say) but I do hear them all the time.
What size tank do you have?
 

mxkris

Member
Yeah, I thought about just getting them anyway, and if they pair up, good, and if not... oh well I guess! It's a 29 gallon.
 

btldreef

Moderator
If you're set on getting a pistol shrimp, you have to be careful with what else you put in there. I have only 2 nassarius snails in my 14G with my two shrimps and even they sometimes get too close and collapse a burrow on my shrimp. Usually it's not an issue because of the way I laid out the rock work. If you're not careful about how the rock work is laid out, your shrimp could get crushed. Just keep that in mind.
Honestly, I'd get the diamond and the shrimp, if they pair, great, if now, oh well. You'll hardly ever see the shrimp anyways. One of mine finally moved his burrow the the very front of the tank this past weekend so now I get to see him more, but of course, now my goby is MIA again.

Try to add them both at the same time. If you want them to pair, there's a couple techniques that I think I mentioned earlier on how to get them to.
Just make sure that you don't get a really small pistol shrimp that the fish can mistake for food.
 
C

cbj84b

Guest
Question... what if you have a large pistol and a not so large goby?
 

hunt

Active Member
Originally Posted by mxkris
http:///forum/post/3206414
Yeah, I thought about just getting them anyway, and if they pair up, good, and if not... oh well I guess! It's a 29 gallon.
isnt the minimum tank size for a diamond goby 55g?
 

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by cbj84b
http:///forum/post/3269200
Question... what if you have a large pistol and a not so large goby?
It shouldn't make much of a difference. They either pair or don't. It's up to them to decide and the size usually doesn't matter. My pistol shrimp will eventually be bigger than my Yasha goby, but they don't seem to mind.
Originally Posted by Hunt

http:///forum/post/3269249
isnt the minimum tank size for a diamond goby 55g?
Eh, there's some debate about this. Yes, they can grow to 6", BUT, these aren't crazy swimmers like a hippo tang would be. I think with the right stock list, a 30 gallon would be okay.
 
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