Blue Shrimp?

[Zakary2003]

Found this guy inside my return pump. I've been hearing snapping back there so I assume it's a pistol shrimp. Will he pair with a goby? Is he reef safe? I live in Florida. Is he native (meaning can I release him if he is a pest)?

 

[Mr_Knightley]

Definitely a snapper, but not a goby-pairing kind. Cool sump critter or nano tank inhabitant.
He's most likely an Atlantic species, but I wouldn't suggest releasing it even if it was native to your backyard due to disease concerns. Most animals in our reef tanks are from the Pacific and carry very different pathogens and microbiomes from Atlantic species. This animal is considered 'contaminated' with Pacific germs and should be kept in captivity for the rest of its life.

 

[Zakary2003]

Definitely a snapper, but not a goby-pairing kind. Cool sump critter or nano tank inhabitant.

My plan was always to eventually add a shrimp and goby pair to my tank (20 cube AIO). Will this guy fight or kill a candy shrimp if I both are in the display tank?

 

[Mr_Knightley]

My plan was always to eventually add a shrimp and goby pair to my tank (20 cube AIO). Will this guy fight or kill a candy shrimp if I both are in the display tank?

Definitely. Snapping shrimp (the solitary ones) are far more aggressive than pistol shrimp (goby cohosts) and would most definitely win the battle. However, snappers tend to me a lot more active than pistols, so it would be very cool in its own tank. I have a relative of your shrimp in his own 2.5g pico and he's out all the time.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Found this guy inside my return pump. I've been hearing snapping back there so I assume it's a pistol shrimp. Will he pair with a goby? Is he reef safe? I live in Florida. Is he native (meaning can I release him if he is a pest)?

Regardless of whether it's native to your area or not, it is ILLEGAL to release aquarium critters back into the wild.