Are shrimp gobies unhappy without shrimp?

[Zionas]

If a shrimp goby is kept without a Pistol Shrimp, does it become much more shy and unhappy?

 

[ThRoewer]

Simple answer: yes.
They also want to be kept in pairs (as do the pistol shrimp)

 

[RickLRMS]

Simple answer: yes.
They also want to be kept in pairs (as do the pistol shrimp)

By this, you mean two gobies and two pistol shrimp? Do they create a community of four in a dugout?

 

[ThRoewer]

By this, you mean two gobies and two pistol shrimp? Do they create a community of four in a dugout?

Yes. I got a pair of Yashas with a pair of randalli pistol shrimps. They totally work together and the shrimp even help pumping water through the burrow to help the goby larvae out on hatch night.
I actually have two shrimp pairs in that tank. The second pair is on the other end of the tank and never be seen out during the day. I only know where they are because I can see them through the bottom glass. They will be paired with a pair of Dracula gobies i just got.

 

[mort]

I don't think it's as easy as a yes or no answer. Do the smaller shrimp gobies become more outgoing and secure with a shrimp? To that I'd definitely say yes as their small size makes them shyer.
Do the larger ones need a pistol? To this I'd say it depends as there are shy species but also quite bold species that don't seem overly bothered.

What I would say however is if you can recreate nature in your tank by pairing them with a pistol, making them far more rewarding to keep and "happy", why would you not want to keep them like that.

 

[Zionas]

I would ideally want to have a Tiger Pistol (the natural symbiotic partner for the YWG), it’s just that it may take a while for me to source one. That’s all. Many LFS in my area don’t like Pistol Shrimp.

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Watchman gobies are a bit finnicky without pistol shrimp

 

[mort]

I would ideally want to have a Tiger Pistol (the natural symbiotic partner for the YWG), it’s just that it may take a while for me to source one. That’s all. Many LFS in my area don’t like Pistol Shrimp.

Bellus pistols are readily available. It sounds like them not liking them which is probably the reason they aren't in your area. If you have a friendly lfs then it shouldn't be very hard for them to find one for you.

 

[Fink]

Watchman gobies are a bit finnicky without pistol shrimp

Definitely this! I had a yellow watchman for about 6 months and I'd only see him like once a week maybe, usually right before lights out. I gave him a tiger pistol buddy and now I see his head and upper body sticking out of a burrow almost constantly.

 

[Zionas]

Yeah I’ll definitely try to get the shrimp!

 

[nereefpat]

The pink spot I kept alone was perfectly happy and not shy for the better part of a decade.

The yellow watchman I kept hid high up in the corner of the tank until he found his shrimp.