Shrimp Compatibility 1/18/08
I hear of Pistol Shrimp eating Cleaner Shrimps. Will they eat Sexy Shrimp as well?
<The Pistol Shrimp is relatively safe with most invertebrates, but with small shrimp such as the Sexy Shrimp...I would not chance.>
Thanks,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Carol

Jawfish/Goby and pistol shrimp combo 01/09/2008
Hey guys and gals how are things?
<<Hello, Andrew here>>
I have a couple questions this morning. I've been doing a lot of research regarding Jawfish, and also have a love for the shrimp/goby relationship. The FAQ's have provided me great knowledge regarding these animals.<<Great to hear>> But, I still have a couple questions. I've been playing with marine aquariums for over five years now, and have set up three of four tanks due to moving and travel. Unfortunately, until now I had no idea that the rockwork is better placed on the glass rather than the substrate. <<A lesson well learned>>
My tank has been sitting for about 2 months with no fish, it's 40 gallons with 50ish lbs of live rock. (1/2 of which is either touching bottom glass or very close to it from digging liverock into substrate)
I also have Goniopora, Button polyps, green star polyps, and mushrooms. I have created a 6"-7" DSB about 9" square away from the liverock for the Jawfish to build his den, sand bed is about 2" elsewhere. Now for the questions.
With this setup will a Jawfish build his den in the desired location?
<<Stands a good chance, nothing is certain though>>
If not will it put my rock structure in danger of shifting and damaging my tank?
<<If the fish digs under rock which is only supported by sand, then yes>>
If so, would the pistol shrimp/ goby combo be a better fit?
<<The pistol will dig just the same as the Jawfish>>
Lastly, if both the Jawfish and pistol/goby are o.k. in my conditions would it be at all possible for me to have both?
<<Yes, given good tank size and big enough deep sand, should be fine>>
Thanks again for everything you provide, any help as always is greatly appreciated.
Steve
<<Thanks for the questions, A Nixon>>

Re: Jawfish/Goby and pistol shrimp combo 01/09/2008
Thanks for the quick response Andrew, greatly appreciated.
<<No problem>>
If I dig under the liverock so it will be in direct contact with the bottom of the tank will the concern about the Jawfish and goby/pistol be laid to rest?
<<Yes, that will be better>>
thanks again,
Steve
<<Thanks, A Nixon>>

Pistol shrimp/gobies in new tank
Hello,
I am in the process in setting up my reef tank (75 gallon). I have 100 pounds of live rock and 25 pounds of lace rock. I am wondering if I can add two pistol shrimp and a wheeler watchman goby and a Randall prawn goby (or should I just stick with one pair pistol/goby combination) with the following list of wants of livestock.
want to add (over a period of time)
2 fire shrimp
2 cleaner shrimp
1 banded coral shrimp
emerald crab (x2)
2 Percula clowns (w/anemone and anemone crab inside)
2 sand sifting stars
sally lightfoot crab
4 green Chromis
50 bumble bee snails
various red/blue hermits
blue "hippo" tang (small)
button and star polyps
green stripe mushroom
hairy mushroom
Bullseye mushroom
have a sl-150 miracle wet/dry (Rio 2500 pump 720 gph)
two Fluval 404's
Berlin xl turbo skimmer
4 VHO 110 watt lights
aragonite sand (75 pounds or so) what needs added for the goby/pistol relationship to work. Thank you for you time and consideration. its hard to find good advice when starting out your new aquariums and ideas for livestock
Jeff Morningstar
<Mmm, the fishes you list and the non-crustaceans should pose no problems... but the other shrimps... might be consumed by or consume the Alpheids if hungry... I would start/do what you propose... go with just the one pair first (either), and see how they fare. If it were me/my system, I would acclimate the new mutuals in an all plastic specimen box (like the ones used for housing small amphibians, lizards, bugs... available at pet shops) on the bottom for a few days ahead of releasing them. Bob Fenner>

Pistol Shrimp
 Bob,
 When I set up my reef tank 15 months ago, one of the critters included  with "the Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater was a pistol shrimp.
 Since then, and the tank is going well, I have been reading about the  horrors of mantis shrimp. How can one determine if one has a pistol  shrimp or a mantis shrimp? Both make that snapping sound and both hide  pretty well. I understand that the pistol should be OK in a reef tank and  the mantis not. Or are both dangerous to hermit crabs and snails? I have  noticed that I need to replace my hermit crabs and snails every so often.
<Mantis are dorso-ventrally compressed, and have longer bodies, with prominent eyestalks... Pistol Shrimps are more laterally compressed, not very large and have one longer, cylindrical claw... very different appearing. Both can/will eat hermits and snails>
 Finally, if I'm better off without the pistol, how do I get rid of it? It  has grown some since I set up the tank. By the way, I use the Berlin  system which seems to be working well. I also have a banded coral shrimp  and a cleaner shrimp. Possible culprits in the disappearing snails and  crabs?  Thanks,  Jim >>
<Best to bait out these animals with something meaty on a stout string/line... toward night time, or use a "live rodent trap" made of plastic (sold at large hardware stores)... and Yes, if hungry enough cleaners, including Stenopus will eat snails, hermits.  Bob Fenner>

- Hungry, Hungry Pistol Shrimp -
<Greetings, JasonC here...>
Ok, so my Pistol Shrimp is feasting on my hermit crabs...  I would like to have crabs and keep my Pistol Shrimp.  I noticed some bright red crabs at an aquarium today.  The looked like bright red peppers on legs.  I think the pet store had them labeled as Halloween Crabs???  I don't know what they were, couldn't find them in your listing.  Any idea of what they were? <Not really, this name 'Halloween crabs' is used on several types of crabs that I have seen... and they're not all the same. Perhaps ask the people at that store if they have the Latin name for those crabs.> They are larger than my hermit crabs but smaller than my emerald crabs.  Where the emerald crabs are flat bodied... these were 'pepper' shaped??  Any idea what these are? <Nope.> I think that being a bit larger that perhaps my Pistol Shrimp wouldn't attack them? <I don't think so, your Alpheid [snapping shrimp] has superior firepower, if you know what I mean.> If I bought a few of these and let my remaining hermit crabs become lunch... would that do the trick?? <I don't think so.> What are your thoughts?? <Your best bet is to offer the shrimp some food directly, perhaps frozen shrimp or other meaty food. If it is satiated, then perhaps it will be less likely to look elsewhere for food.> Would these new red crabs conflict with my emerald crabs or coral banded shrimp? <Hard to predict. I don't really trust any crab much farther than I can throw it.>
Dave
<Cheers, J -- >

Pistol Shrimp is having $1.75 lunches...
Simple question...  I've had plenty of small blue-legged hermit crabs and a Pistol Shrimp for close to 3 months now.  Just over the last week have caught my Pistol Shrimp on 4 occasions snatching a small hermit crab and
pulling him under a rock into his cave.  Is this normal?
<Not unusual>
Is he eating them? - dumb question?   What do Pistol Shrimps usually eat?  Is there something I can do to stop this?
Dave
<They (Alpheids) consume most meaty items. Either removing it/them or their food is prudent. Bob Fenner>

Pistol Shrimp & Gobies Pairs
How are you guys doing?
<Very well!>
Fine I hope. How aggressive are pistol shrimp?
<Mine only bother someone who tries to hide in their burrow.>
Looking to buy a goby/shrimp combo but I don't want him eating more expensive dinners than I do.    
<Given enough room and hiding spots, they are pretty peaceful, keeping to themselves, but mine have killed about a half dozen animals over the course of the four years I have had them. Two Cleaner Shrimp right after they were introduced darted down into the Pistol Shrimps' home. Snap, snap, snap, I never saw the Cleaners again. Also, a few small fishes when I have been rearranging rock or adding corals, basically disturbing things. The fish got scared and tried to hide on the other end of the tank. Note, that my shrimp do not have a Goby living with them. Perhaps the Goby would have prevented the other fish from entering the cave. -Steven Pro>

Moose & Squirrel? Nope, Goby & Shrimp... (04/18/03)
Thank you in advance for any assistance you might provide....
<Ananda the goby-fan here tonight...>
I am looking for a scientific name of a partner goby that I have in my tank.  
<Detective work is fun...!>
It was called a "Yasser Haji" goby.... who knows if the spelling is good or even accurate.  
<Well, Mr. Arafat would agree with the spelling of Yasser, and others might like the spelling of Haji, but the gobies sure don't know why they're saddled with such a name... nor do I. So far, Google searches on any combination of "Yasser", "Haji", and "goby" are turning up nothing.>
He appears to be very similar to a Stonogobiops nematodes, although he has horizontal red stripes on a white background with a mottled red and white face.  He has the same filamentous fin.  It appears to extend almost as long as his body, which is less than 2" long.  He also has a yellowish tail fin.  
<Ah, now we're getting somewhere. In Scott Michael's book "Marine Fishes", the Stonogobiops nematodes is on p. 355. Flipping the page, I see what I think is your fish, listed as "Stonogobiops sp." on p. 356. The "sp." designation means it hadn't been given a species designation yet. But Fishbase.org has a handy search feature. A search on the genus "Stonogobiops" shows two interesting entries: "Stonogobiops sp.", and "Stonogobiops yasha". More interestingly, the latter is considered the correct name for the former. The detailed entry page has no photo, but the description fits. A quick check of the remaining Stonogobiops listings, and I'm fairly certain that S. yasha is the fish. The species name was given in 2001, after the book Marine Fishes was written, so that fits, too.>
I had his partner too but it has apparently died during a molt.  It was a brilliant red and white also and had the characteristics of a mantis shrimp, approximately 1" long.
<Fishbase lists Alpheus randalli as this fish's shrimp partner. A quick Google search on "Alpheus randalli" turns up web pages with photos of both the shrimp *and* the goby! And a couple of pages show the goby clearly labeled as Stonogobiops yasha. (I must make one clarification comment -- the A. randalli shrimp does not have the characteristics of a mantis shrimp, but of a pistol shrimp. In fact, the common name of your shrimp is the Randall's snapping shrimp. Many people mistake the very loud popping noise of pistol shrimp for a noise made by a mantis shrimp, but most mantis shrimp are actually rather quiet. Well, until you give them some food.... but that's another topic.)>
Any information I can provide I will.... and thank you.
David Snider
<Thanks for writing -- I now know the species name of this cute little goby. --Ananda>

Pistol shrimp
Hi guys,
<Hello David>
We have one pistol shrimp in our fish only tank.
Right now he has what looks like the remains of a hermit crab in his barnacle home.
Do they prey on hermits? Or did the hermit die before and the shrimp just carried off the rest?
<Could be either... there are Pistols/Alpheids that can/will attack, eat small Hermits. Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
David and Christy

Pistol Shrimp(s)
Hello,
I started my reef keeping experience with a Randall's shrimp goby. <My favorite shrimp goby!> After hunting for a pistol shrimp for months I finally came across one in a local pet store (right under my nose) It was a Tiger (Bellulus). Within a half hour of adding the pistol shrimp to the aquarium the goby and shrimp were best of friends, but alas, about 3 months later my goby died (my first and thankfully last fish death in all this time). I soon picked up a very nice male Yellow Watchman and the pistol shrimp took to it immediately. <Fickle those shrimps are, aye?> I guess my point here is that in my own experience and in all the articles I've read at other places on the net it seems to be a theme that Alpheus Bellulus (Tiger Pistol Shrimp) is one of the most readily goby pairing shrimps available (or maybe I just got really lucky) <Yep, they're pretty slick like that.>
Anyways, about 6 months ago I witnessed to my horror that my tiger pistol shrimp (which I had been keeping for nearly two years at this point) was lying on his back just outside his burrow, molting and looking very sickly with Bob (my yellow watchman) looking on apparently in as much dismay as me. Not knowing what to do I just let him be and crossed my fingers. I think my hermits finished him off in the night. <Bummer, you might want to check your iodine levels as a potential cause for a molting death>  Being unable to obtain a Tiger pistol locally I started looking on the net - where I found a Alpheus soror (Clown or Bullseye Pistol) I am curious to see if my Yellow Watchman and this species will hit it off or not. I have been very unable to find any info on this species on the net (particularly info on what goby species it likes to bunk up with) and would love any info you guys could give me. <In most books this shrimp isn't even ID'd to the species level> In any case I'll find out if the two will enjoy each others company very soon as my Bullseye Pistol will be here today before 4:30 CST via FedEx = ) <Heh, well I suppose you can tell us now! I'd say it's likely, but not as likely as the rather easy going tiger pistol. -Kevin>
Thanks and good luck to all.

Preventative Pistol Precautions 1/13/04
Hi Crew,
<howdy>
I was considering getting a pistol shrimp (possibly a pistol-goby pair) but, after watching the Discovery Channel I am now a bit worried.
<there is a wide range of hardiness suitability for aquarium use among this group... choose wisely>
I watched the pistol shrimp use its claw to stun, then eat a variety of fish.  Would my tank become a "shrimp buffet" if I added one of these little creatures?  The smallest animals in my 180 gallon tank are a pair of maroon clowns, a royal Gramma and a few hundred hermits and snails.  I also have three small yellow tail damsels but the shrimp can have them if he wants them!
<many pistols are quite territorial... more of a threat to other benthic crustaceans (like shrimp) than fishes>
I am actually trying to find a way to get rid of these damsels (they are attacking the royal Gramma).  Any suggestions for this?  
<they are greedy and can be trapped a number of ways. Do manipulate keyword phrases to fin FAQs in our archives via the google search tool on the home page. Some great ideas for fish/invert traps inside>
I am even considering adding a lionfish or something that might eat only these small fish (leaving my clowns alone) - ala "the lady who swallowed a fly".
<neither the pistol nor the lion is a viable solution. Trap instead. Even drain and refill the tank quickly (15 minutes with a sump pump and some garbage cans/pickle barrel) to net the fish easier>
Thank you for the help - it is greatly appreciated as always!  -- Greg
<best of luck. Anthony>

Red Coris versus Pistol Shrimp
Hi again,
<Hello there>
Red Coris versus Pistol Shrimp.... who will win?
<My money's nine to one on the Coris... as a matter of fact, I was just down at Ka'alu'u Beach a few days back turning stones over to see what there was to see... and a beautiful pistol shrimp was under one... I whipped my camera around... but too late... A Coris gaimard that was following me about, to see what there was to see under the rocks this crazy "bi-fin" was turning, snapped it right up!>
There's a Pistol Shrimp hiding out in my 130 litre tank... I'd rather he packed his bags and left, but I'm not game to try to evict him.... and for 6 months he hasn't caused anyone any trouble (to my absolute knowledge).  I - stupidly - believed everything I was told yesterday at the LFS - must have had 'sucker' written on my forehead - and came home with a 4cm Coris Gaimard. He's currently hiding under the marine sand... now I've researched him on your site - thank God for decent information - and realize the task ahead of me to keep him happy. (I've also just suffered the loss of a favourite seahorse in the other tank due to massive bad information from this LFS... so very sad today.)
<Live and hopefully learn>
Meantime - is the Pistol Shrimp a threat to him?
<Doubtful>
Also - is he a threat to the other tankmates: anemone and pair of clowns; 1 damsel; 1 flame angel; 1 canary wrasse; 1 blenny (he looks most like your picture of Salarias fasciatus, I asked for a bi-colour to eat the algae and was told he would do the same job); 1 sea cucumber (also bought yesterday). 
<Mmm, only time will tell... but I give you very good odds for many months that they'll all get along>
Should I try to return him to the LFS? Thanks for your help.
Regards, Wendy
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Re: Red Coris versus Pistol Shrimp
Thanks! Maybe the God of marine creatures was helping me after all... the little red may solve the pistol dilemma.  Lots of smiles Thanks.  Wendy
<You're generating them here! Bob Fenner>

Pistol Shrimp
I did something stupid! <Hi Jason, Don't sweat it we all have at one time or another, what's up?> I have a 29 gallon fully stocked reef with many soft and hard corals, clams and other filter feeders. I have a handful of small fish - a mandarin, a yasha goby, an orange spotted goby, a long nose Hawkfish, 2 clowns and a little blenny. the community was doing incredibly well until lately, when I decided to get a couple of pistol shrimp. first I ordered one, then I ordered what I thought was 2 different ones, and somehow received 3, so now I have a whopping 4 pistol shrimps (3 tigers and 1 cool red one) in a 29 gallon tank. I had to screw up a good thing. how do I trap a couple of them? <There are several mantis or shrimp traps you can buy or make out there. Most are very easy. I'd suggest you start with the pistol shrimp information http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pistolshrimps.htm> and how screwed am I? <It depends on what you were trying to do and what you want to do now.> so far one of the goby's is trying to pair with two of the pistols, but they seem to dominate him (they are approximately the same size, which may be a problem). <Its good that they are trying to pair.> 2 of the tiger pistols burrowed together in a little corner under a rock with about 2 inches of sand, and seem satisfied. will they eat my brittle stars? <Not trying to be wishywashy here but depends on the shrimps. And what kind of "tiger shrimp" they are.> I almost hope so, I've had a feeling that they were responsible for eating some of my fish in the past while they were sleeping.<If the brittles are green brittles you should get them out of the tank. Most other types of brittle stars should be okay.> if not and I put some harlequin shrimp in to eat the brittle stars, will the pistols kill the brittle stars? <That depends on a lot of things including how much the pistols are getting fed.>  will these pistols shrimps hold me hostage from here on in? I really want to trap at least 2 of them and I'll most likely put them in another tank I have. help! <Try this, http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/DIY/diyMantisTrap.shtml, or this http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pest/catch.htm, Good luck, MacL>

Pistol shrimp
Hi there,
I have several species of pistol shrimp in a 150 gallon reef tank.  I have a pair of yellow ones with purple claws with a black spot on their sides.  
<Hmm, I think I've seen this species before but not sure what the exact name is.  I'm reasonably sure it's in the genus Alpheus though, but I've never seen it partnered with a goby like some pistols do.>
  Can you please tell me some info on these.  Do they eat fish? Snails?
<If they can catch sick or dying fish, maybe.  They could also be killing snails if they're not being fed well enough.>
   I have been mysteriously losing fish, and found the skull of my chevron tang in a hole with one of these shrimps.
<Not necessarily meaning it killed the fish of course. it may have been eating the carcass>
I do not think I have a mantis shrimp, because I still have snails, and all my smaller fish - gobies and quite a few cleaner and blood shrimps.  I have lost a pygmy angel, flame angel, chevron tang, twin spot hog, just to name a few.
<I doubt a pistol could dispatch a full grown fish of this size.  It sounds like you could have something else going on in your tank.  Do you have other fish that are still living?  Corals?  What are your water parameters?>
any info on these shrimps would be greatly appreciated.
<The only species I've kept purposely is A. randalli, a goby symbiont.  My experience was that it would snap at just about anything in front of it, but rarely did damage to anything larger than an amphipod.  I kept this one with several small gobies without any problems.  I also kept a larger tank with several pistol shrimps as hitchhikers.  I rarely ever saw them, but heard them snapping.  This tank housed a Kole tang, two small clownfish, and a damsel.  No problems there either.  Hope this helps..>
thank you
        From the desk of Graham Bishop

Pistol Shrimp and Featherduster Worm Meals
I've read that Pistol Shrimps will generally get along with other invertebrates if they are well fed.
<Yes, this is so>
I've had my Pistol Shrimp now for two years. At one point, I had approximately 60 blue-legged hermits. They have
been disappearing quite rapidly... down to about 15 now within one year. As well, two different Mithrax Crabs have disappeared. The Pistol Shrimp typically resides in a particular area of the live rock.
<Also common>
A few of the crevices where different rocks meet... have been piled with hermit crab shells, snail shells, and even one Mithrax shell. It has been suggested to me by a knowledgeable staff member at Big Al's Aquarium that this is a sure sign of my Pistol Shrimp preying on my snails/crabs... that he is 'decorating' his lair?
<Or just lazy re clean-up after meals...>
As well, my brittle or serpent stars seem to perish within a month... arms broken off (I'm assuming eaten as opposed to fallen off due to water quality).
<Perhaps>
If I am keeping my tank at a consistent salinity of .0024 (not sure of the decimals), temperature a constant 26oc, other parameters are good.... Should my blue-legged's and hermits be perishing without the assistance of my Pistol Shrimp???
<Maybe, maybe not>
In any event, I have captured my Pistol Shrimp (4 hours of live rock removal) and returned him to Big Al's for an exchange. On another note, I did exchange the Shrimp for a few creatures... including a feather duster. The feather duster is quite large... about 3" diameter fan... I placed him at the bottom of the tank in the sand next to some live rock. I couldn't find any information on best locations to place other than embedded in rock work or sandbed. I guess if he doesn't like the location he will move?
<Mmm, no>
I plan on shutting off powerheads/filtration for about an hour during my feedings and will likely target feed the feather duster with a syringe with brine/minced krill/blood worm mixture (it's a liquid). I did notice my Coral Banded Shrimp snipped a very tiny piece of his fan off... brought the piece of fan to his mouth... and then proceeded to leave the feather duster alone. I am hoping he was just curious and will now leave the feather duster alone?
<Me too>
If being harmed, would the feather duster retract?
<Usually yes>
Thanks,
Dave
<Welcome. Bob Fenner> 

Pistol shrimp with other shrimp 6/6/05
Hey there, I think I will go with the tiger pistol shrimp, but I am not sure if it can peacefully exist with my 2 cleaner shrimp and a peppermint shrimp. Do you think they will be ok? thanks again! <Pistol shrimp with other shrimp can be risky.  Although not predatory, Pistol shrimp will aggressively defend their territory against other shrimps, crabs, even fish (other than their "watchmen")!  Best Regards.  AdamC.>

Alpheids, polychaetes
Hi again Mr. Fenner! Would a pistol shrimp be of some use in controlling bristle worms population or not really noticeably?
Thanks!
Dominique
<The latter. Bob Fenner> 

Pistol Shrimp   1/27/06
Bob, <James today>
I have a 30 gallon oceanic cube, which has just completed cycling.  I have 10 scarlet hermit crabs, a few blue legged hermits, a serpent star, 5 Nassarius snails, 5 Astraea snails, 2 turbo snails, 2 peppermint shrimp, 2 Pederson's shrimps, 1 skunk cleaner, and an emerald crab.  I also have a pair of percula's and a pygmy angel.  I'm considering adding later either a Coral Branded Shrimp or a Pistol/Goby combination.  I'm leaning away from the Coral Banded because the size and shape of the tank will probably make his territoriality an issue.  I'd love to get a pistol goby pair, I've seen them in larger tanks and it is just neat.  I've heard on a few websites that pistol shrimp themselves may be a danger to my other inhabitants.  However, I have been able to find who are likely victims of a pistol shrimp.  Are there any species of pistol shrimp which are less dangerous than others? <Size usually dictates this.>
Also, is there anyone on my list who's a potential victim? <Shouldn't pose any threat with the exception of smaller shrimp and very small fish.  I have a pistol in my tank sharing quarters with a scarlet cleaner shrimp, snails, hermits, etc, with no harm done.  James (Salty Dog)>
Sincerely,
Derek

Pistol shrimp and firefish   1/19/06
Hello crew,
I recently 'bumped into' the topic of mantis and pistol shrimps while  looking for other info on the site.  I have a 75 gallon  FOWLR.  1- 3" Naso Tang, 1- 3" Coral Beauty Angel and 1-Firefish, and  1-Emerald Crab with about 6 small hermit crabs.  I placed my first  well-cured live rock into the display tank about 3 months ago.  A 14# piece  completely encrusted with coralline and very craggy and porous.   I  lost a coral banded shrimp and probably 2 or 3 small hermits but no fish over  the past 2 months or so.  I have never seen any other creatures day or  night in my tank besides the ones I purchased.   I now know that the  loud clicking I have heard on and off is likely a pistol or mantis. Yesterday I  performed the club soda method with a baster and also just poured some over the  rock but I heard and saw nothing.  Since the Emerald crab and other fish  have been untouched and the clicking can be heard when tank lights are on that  maybe it is a pistol shrimp rather than a mantis (pretty unscientific but my  hunch after reading all these posts plus additional research).  
My firefish has a nice little cave where some base rock meets  the substrate. Would the Pistol shrimp's friendly  relationship towards some gobies extend to a firefish and maybe he is  living in the cave with him? <Possible, but generally only associate/share with gobies as the goby does shake the tail and warn the shrimp of any impending danger.  I have this relationship going on in my tank and it is quite amusing.> Secondly, I would like to know if you  think I should continue to pursue this unseen/unidentified culprit before adding  more rock and fish and eventually convert to a reef sometime in the  future? <Mark, I'm thinking you have a pistol shrimp.  The mantis shrimp is audible only during a strike at prey whereas the pistol will click whenever threatened.  It is the incredible speed of the club like front leg that generates the sound. Super high speed video actually translated the speed to 75 feet per second along with the impact generating well over 100x their body weight.  To be sure you could set up a mantis trap and see what you catch.  James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks for the help,<You're welcome>
Mark

Re: Pistol shrimp and firefish   1/20/06
Thank you Mr. Sodium canine,<My, what a title>
To clarify then, if I end up trapping a pistol shrimp I should remove him (her?) rather than keep in the tank? <They are safe.> And definitely remove a mantis  if that turns out to be the noise maker? <Definitely>  Do you personally have a  preference for trap types? <I've never had the need to use one so I have no preferences.  Foster&Smith sells one called the X-Terminator that looks like it would work well for $16.00.>
Thanks again, <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog aka Sodium Canine)>
Mark   

Pistol Shrimp/Trapping  - 3/1/2006
Hello crew, <Hi Mark> You have helped me in the past and I am looking for some additional advice now.  I have the following:- 75 gallon FOWLR with about 40 lbs of live rock.  I use 100% RO water.- ~ 1" of aragonite (I am working this down during water changes to be closer to 1/2")- Remora Pro skimmer- Eheim 2217 canister filter- Rio 1100 powerhead- 1 each - Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica), emerald crab (Mithrax sculptus), Coral Beauty Dwarf Angel (Centropyge Bispinosus), Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus), Raccoon Butterfly (Chaetodon lunula) and 3 Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) .......and apparently one pistol shrimp (shrimpis yuckis) I have been trying to trap this bugger by using a trap with Mysis shrimp bait.  How long should I wait before changing the bait with fresh shrimp? <I’d say three days.> Do you think the pistol will be interested in the bait if it is beyond it's 'freshness date'? <Sure, they are scavengers and take what they can get.>  Is there something else I can/should try as bait?  <It’s fine.> I would really like to add some cleaner shrimps but will not until I know this guy is gone. I lost a coral banded shrimp which is when I made the connection about the clicking sounds. <Are you sure this is a pistol shrimp and not a mantis shrimp?  Pistols are relatively safe in reef tanks.> Also, my emerald crab became very reclusive after I started adding iodine (8 drops a day) about 3 weeks ago.  I started adding it because he had never molted in the 6 months I've owned him.  Also, if I do get a chance to see him, his shell has become more and more white.  Is this part of molting or should I just discontinue the iodine? <The crab has to grow to molt.  Maybe he isn’t getting enough vittles.  The iodine present in reef enriched salts should be enough to help with the molt, wouldn’t have to full dose with the iodine in this regard.>
Thanks in advance for your help.  <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Mark

Pistol Shrimp   3/23/06
Hi!  <Hello Tanya>   
  I have a question on pistol shrimp. I was wondering if there was an actual list of pistol shrimps that are compatible with shrimp gobies . There are some obvious ones like Randall shrimp, and Alpheus sp, and candy striped  pistol shrimp, and tiger pistol shrimp, But I was just wondering if there were more pistol shrimp that have shown some symbiotic relationship with gobies, perhaps just hasn't been documented or maybe there's just only 4 pistol shrimps that are compatible in the ocean with gobies.  Please help me find more symbiotic pistol shrimps for my gobies.  <Do keep in mind that the goby and shrimp relationship is not automatic.  If conditions are to their liking they may hole up together.  My pair took four months before they got together.  Anyway, there are a few on our site which I believe you have already covered.  Here is a link to another site with ten more species.  http://www.saltcorner.com/1024/index1024.htm  Clicking on the name will give a detailed description and usually a photo of the shrimp in question.>   
Thanks  <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>

Shrimp goby + pistol shrimp questions  - 04/05/2006
Hi!
<Howdy>
I was thinking about adding either a blue-spotted Jawfish to my reef or a shrimp goby with his pistol shrimp. I decided to forget about the Jawfish because it's a jumper.
<Most all fishes, groups are>
Some people told me it wasn't true and they never had one jumping but I guess they were just lucky, right?
<Perhaps>
A few things make me hesitate about the shrimp + goby pair. I have been looking in my book Reef Invertebrates and on the WWM but I am still unsure. My tank is a 90 gal open top with 5" sugar fine DSB. To be more specific, here are the four shrimp gobies I am thinking about: Randall's, Wheeler's, hi-fin red banded, yasha.
Maybe you can advice me if some are more suitable (in my case it would mean most likely to pair with a shrimp and less likely to jump out of the tank).
Apart from jumping and pairing here are some other questions/concerns: -Noise from the pistol shrimp. I heard everything from "can hear it from the other end of the house and annoying when you try to sleep" to "little clicking noise you hear from time to time, not a concern at all." Is it really a concern?
<Not IMO>
-On one reply on the WWM it is said that they can accommodate themselves and dig in any kind of substrate even uniform sugar-fine DSB. But should I add some rubble then?
<I would, yes... Makes for more interesting behavior>
Don't want to add too much of it because I think the fighting conch wouldn't appreciate...
-Can the pistol shrimp really pose a threat to other small crustaceans (sexy shrimps), small fishes (clown goby, mandarin), or the fighting conch (nicknamed Mr. Elephant...) in a 90 gal system?
<Yes, can... if hungry>
-The digging of the shrimp should not be a problem for the corals or clams located toward the bottom (covering them with sand) if I place things correctly I guess. But can it mess up the DSB/NNR methodology?
<Can mal-influence this, yes. Best to place a screen/barrier some distance/layer down to prevent it digging too deep. Bob Fenner>
Many many tanks !
Dominique

Pipefish and Pistol Shrimp  6/25/06 -
Hi Bob,
<Hi there, Leslie in for Bob this evening.>
I was just wondering if its safe to keep a pair of bluestripe pipefish in a tank with a pistol shrimp?
<Not in my opinion. The only shrimp I would consider with any of the syngnathids would be a few of the cleaner shrimp….. Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni), Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata debelius) or the White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) .>Thanks. <You're most welcome, Leslie>

Pistol shrimp and Jawfish, comp., esp. Alpheids     5/16/07
Hello,
<Hi there>
I seem to be having a turf war in my tank...
<Very common... more common than not...>
or rather an invasion.  Two days ago my Jawfish left the
burrow he's lived in for the last year and moved to the far end of my 55 gal. tank.  I noticed that his caudal fin was split.  Luckily he made himself a new burrow almost immediately.  Today his tail is almost entirely healed and he's working on a new burrow behind a convenient rock.  While I was watching him dig this new burrow, I saw a pistol shrimp (about 1.5-2 in) had set up shop in the abandoned Jawfish burrow (I'm assuming the shrimp is responsible for the Jawfish's evacuation).
<May well be>
Not only that, but the shrimp had dug himself several new entrances and exits and had also evicted my 2" hi-fin goby (Stonogobiops nematodes).
<Luckily not consumed (yet)>
Now I'm worried that there just doesn't seem to be enough room for everyone.
The shrimp's warren extends across nearly 1/2 of the tank floor and includes the prime territory (well, prime at least from the human observer's point of view).  
<Good point>
My top priority is making sure that my Jawfish to be injured again.
Even so, I'm a big fan of pistol shrimp.  In my other tank I have a mated pair of yellow watchman gobies with a Randall's shrimp and the trio are definitely the highlight of the tank.  This pistol, however, is a different and larger species, although I'm not sure which.  I've looked over the FAQs and articles, all of which indicate that pistol shrimp are *generally* peaceful and *should* be harmless.
<Uhh, no... or at least would have to chat with you re your definitions of these terms... Alpheids are territorial, agonistic... alpha organisms>
The pistol shrimp isn't bothering my other two shrimp, a fire red cleaner and a peppermint (which have never had difficulties with Jawfish either).  Should I trap the pistol shrimp out, just to be on the safe side?
<I likely would>
I've been thinking of setting up a small tank (maybe just a 10 gal.?) for my second, smaller hi-fin goby because he doesn't seem to be very happy in the 55, spending most of his time hiding behind a powerhead, so maybe I should move the pistol into that tank?
<Mmm, I would likely keep these separated... unless you can be very diligent in making sure the Shrimp is well-fed>
If so, would I still be able to keep the little high-fin in there, too?
<Not IMO/E>
Thanks for your help!
-Lisa
<Perhaps better to put the Pistol in a sump... Bob Fenner>

Pistol Shrimp... A Soldier I Will Be...Two Pistols On My Goby 12/4/07
Hey guys,
<Got a gal today.>
I really relish all the info on your site and had a question of my own for once.
<Glad you have found the site helpful.>
I was considering buying a Randall’s shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris randalli) and a snapping shrimp (Alpheus bellulus) for my 20gal.
<OK.>
Then I saw a video of two snapping shrimp working for one goby and was like sick!!!
<Heehee! Sweet!>
How do I get two shrimp to work for the same goby?
<Have you heard the idiom "You can leading a horse to water"? You can provide the environment/circumstance but you can't make the shrimp do something that it doesn't have a mind to do. Best you can do is try it.>
Thanks for doing this for everyone!
<On behalf of Bob and the crew, all are welcome. Mich>