A Shrimp Tale

[Paul B]

Once upon a time (OK last year) I had this shrimp and Gobi

He looked lonely so the King of this section of reef (Me) went out and got him a little companion. In time, the little guy grew to where he could be friends, or maybe more than friends with the older guy. In the beginning the King was worried because the little gobi was tiny and he was afraid he would be eaten.
The two gobies moved into the tunnel dug by their friend the pistal shrimp. and it looked like they would be happy and safe forever.

Then this big, mean Watchman gobi came by and evicted these two smaller gobies, moved into their home, enslaved their shrimp and they had no place to live.

So the King (me again) searched far and wide and found a new shrimp that had no gobi friends and he bought him.
He put the shrimp in the six foot long tank not thinking these 3 creatures would ever meet up, but to his surprise, with in 10 minutes, the gobies found that the shrimp was living in a tube and they took up a position outside the entrance. The shrimp inched out and noticed the gobies guarding his cave and he immediately started digging a tunnel right beneath their watchful eyes.
Now the tunnel is about an inch deep and the gobies are laying across it, protecting it and the shrimp from harm. (you can just about make out the shrimp antenna sticking out of the hole, touching the gobi) The King of this reef (yes me) believes that by tomorrow, the gobies and the new shrimp will again be safe and comfortable in their new home. And the old watchman could go and sit on a tack and rotate.
The End. :brushteeth:

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Cute story!! Yellow watchman gobies can be so mean!!

 

[Paul B]

Last night I was cowering in bed under the covers as I heard this huge fight coming from the tank. There was water splashing, bottles breaking, chains swinging and curses flying. I was afraid to look, as I knew there was bloodshed.
But this morning as I peered in with my little critter light, I didn't see much blood but I did notice my striped gobi, the cute one, laying in his tunnel with the shrimp, I could tell he was knocked out as he was sweating profusely. The bully was no where to be found and may have left town. I may have more information when the lights come on. If they still work.
This is one of the bullys when he is not picking on someone smaller than he is. I am not sure if this is the guy that evicted them the second time as there are some in there that I don't even know where they came from and just crashed my tank.

No, this is him, I am sure of it. Now I also have to worry about that other guy. Maybe I should buy 10 shrimps

 

[amppdx]

Love it! My watchman is a real tough guy in the lower 8 inches of the tank, but turns into a scaredy cat when he goes any higher.

 

[Paul B]

I didn't even know they knew how to swim.

 

[skinz78]

Haha cute story, keep the updates coming!

 

[Sacohen]

Paul you should be a writer of children's tales.
I was always told that you can't keep more than one goby in a tank or they will fight.

 

[chris75]

This is a great story. I have enjoyed it. Keep us updated!

 

[Paul B]

I was always told that you can't keep more than one goby in a tank or they will fight.

I bet you were also told that you can't use a UG filter in a reef, or that you had to change water every month, or that you had to keep nitrates low for SPS or that you could not use NSW, or that you had to quarantine, or that nitrates cause hair algae, or that DSBs are the greatest thing since Ben Gay, or that fish can be in great shape by eating flake food, or that Paris Hilton was a Babe.

 

[Sacohen]

I bet you were also told that you can't use a UG filter in a reef,

No

or that you had to change water every month,

No, I have a denitrification chamber.

or that you had to keep nitrates low for SPS or that you could not use NSW,

Yes to Nitrate in general don't know what NSW stands for.

or that you had to quarantine,

I've never Quarantined.

or that nitrates cause hair algae,

Yes

or that DSBs are the greatest thing since Ben Gay,

No, I've never like DSB.

or that fish can be in great shape by eating flake food,

No. I feed Prime Reef, Mysis, Oyster Feast, and silversides. Flakes once in a while when I don't have that much time.

or that Paris Hilton was a Babe.

No she is a dog.

 

[Smnparish]

He didn't say what you do, just said the common things people will say in this hobby. Sheesh, weren't any accusations lol

 

[Connie]

very cute!!! and a happy ending too!

 

[Paul B]

Sacohen we do agree on a few things. NSW is natural sea water

 

[Paul B]

OK, now I think the two shrimp are breeding, what is it with my tank? I think I fed them to many oysters. The shrimp were always on separate sides of the 6' tank, but I guess they found each other and they take turns digging this hole larger. Pretty soon I am going to hear the pitter patter of little feet, or fins, antenna, whatever thay have that makes noise.