Pistols Killing Fish

[gcgrad]

I've been reading several posts and it seems some people have had problems with pistols killing fish. Some mention killing firefish and damaging chromis. I was wanting to have a pistol and yellow watchman goby in my 125. Is this type of behavior from a pistol common? Is this behavior less likely when paired with a goby? Also, I will have a 2" sand bed and know these guys move a lot of sand. Does anyone find them moving a substantial amount of sand to be annoying? Thanks

 

[btldreef]

I've always kept my Randall's (Alpheus randalli) with fish AND other inverts, including other shrimp and it's never harmed any of them.
If you're considering a pistol shrimp in a reef tank, I highly recommend a Randall's. They're one of the easiest to get to pair up with a shrimp goby and are more peaceful than some others. Pistols are definitely more peaceful when they are with a goby. My pistol even paired with my Tail Spot Blenny for some time:

As for the sand, it depends. They do move around and don't stay in the same burrow forever. When they make a new burrow, it can get messy. I've kept him in anywhere from a 1" sand bed to a 8" sand bed, the mess seems to be about the same. I can't keep corals down low with him in fear that when he does move his burrow he'll a)use the coral as an entrance way to his home, climb all over it and irritate it or b) cover it in sand. It's definitely a risk. In a bigger tank it's not as much of an issue, but they're not great for big tanks. You probably won't see him that much, and that kind of sucks. I currently keep mine in a 20G display refugium. He's paired with a Yasha Goby. There is also a McCosker's wrasse, Blue Spot Jawfish, Fire Shrimp and numerous snails and hermits in there and he doesn't bother a thing. In the past I've kept him with a Orange Spotted Filefish, Clownfish, Peppermint shrimp, and a blenny and he didn't bother those either. He's my second pistol. The first Randall's didn't bother a thing either.
A word of caution: Although yellow watchmen gobies are considered shrimp gobies and prime candidates to be paired with a pistol shrimp, consider a different type of shrimp goby UNLESS you can get the two together already paired. YWG's are known for eating pistol shrimps mistaking them for food when you try to pair the two together. I prefer the smaller gobies to pair with the pistols, which is why I keep the Yasha. Other small ones to consider are: High Fin Red Banded Goby, Yasha Goby, Tangaroa Goby, etc.
There are some sites that sell gobies and pistols already paired, usually in a special WYSIWYG type section, you might want to look into that.

 

[gcgrad]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/384735/pistols-killing-fish#post_3371398
I've always kept my Randall's (Alpheus randalli) with fish AND other inverts, including other shrimp and it's never harmed any of them.
If you're considering a pistol shrimp in a reef tank, I highly recommend a Randall's. They're one of the easiest to get to pair up with a shrimp goby and are more peaceful than some others. Pistols are definitely more peaceful when they are with a goby. My pistol even paired with my Tail Spot Blenny for some time:

As for the sand, it depends. They do move around and don't stay in the same burrow forever. When they make a new burrow, it can get messy. I've kept him in anywhere from a 1" sand bed to a 8" sand bed, the mess seems to be about the same. I can't keep corals down low with him in fear that when he does move his burrow he'll a)use the coral as an entrance way to his home, climb all over it and irritate it or b) cover it in sand. It's definitely a risk. In a bigger tank it's not as much of an issue, but they're not great for big tanks. You probably won't see him that much, and that kind of sucks. I currently keep mine in a 20G display refugium. He's paired with a Yasha Goby. There is also a McCosker's wrasse, Blue Spot Jawfish, Fire Shrimp and numerous snails and hermits in there and he doesn't bother a thing. In the past I've kept him with a Orange Spotted Filefish, Clownfish, Peppermint shrimp, and a blenny and he didn't bother those either. He's my second pistol. The first Randall's didn't bother a thing either.
A word of caution: Although yellow watchmen gobies are considered shrimp gobies and prime candidates to be paired with a pistol shrimp, consider a different type of shrimp goby UNLESS you can get the two together already paired. YWG's are known for eating pistol shrimps mistaking them for food when you try to pair the two together. I prefer the smaller gobies to pair with the pistols, which is why I keep the Yasha. Other small ones to consider are: High Fin Red Banded Goby, Yasha Goby, Tangaroa Goby, etc.
There are some sites that sell gobies and pistols already paired, usually in a special WYSIWYG type section, you might want to look into that.
Thanks for the info BTLDreef! You are extremely helpful!!! I'm not settled on the watchman. Just say a YWG and pistol pair at my LFS and wasn't sure what else they paired up with. I will definitely go with the Randalls one as well. Thanks!