Goby to pair w/ pistol shrimp

[Spendley]

Just bought a pistol shrimp about two weeks ago, and I want to pair him up with a goby. I've heard that some gobies will pair, while others will not. I have a 29g biocube with two clowns and a royal gramma, rbta, 3 peppermint shrimp, pistol shrimp, cuc.

Options:
Yellow watchman goby
Randall's shrimp goby
Yasha white ray goby
Blue spotted watchman goby
Diamond watchman goby
Wheelers shrimp goby

Any advice on which to choose, or is this more of a preference issue? Have you owned one of these? How about with a pistol shrimp? All advice is welcome, and pictures encouraged!

 

[VB68]

This is the one my shrimp bonded with.
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby

 

[Spendley]

Oh okay I like that one too.

Is there a big size difference between them? Should I order online or wait til I see one pop up at my LFS ( no variety opportunity, obviously )

 

[VB68]

I got mine at a LFS.

 

[Usatennisfan]

Someone else chime in here but I though only certain shrimp only paired with certain gobies.

 

[eliramos]

Yes I have read that before I had a high fin goby also and there are two pistols in my tank one blue claw ane one tiger and he immediately paired with the tiger even though I introduced him with the blue claw

 

[Spendley]

I understand some species of goby will not pair, but I believe all I have listed will. Please correct me if I am wrong!

 

[Marshall O]

I understand some species of goby will not pair, but I believe all I have listed will. Please correct me if I am wrong!

The one I am not sure of is the Diamond Goby. This is from the Valencienna family, and so is a sand sifting goby. They spend all day sifting the sand bed (and so require a quite large and established sandbed) so I am not sure if they would form the symbiotic relationship or not. They are not long lived in most home aquariums due to there nutritional needs, and so I would not recommend one either way.

 

[Spendley]

Thanks for the input Marshall! I was fooled by the "watchman" in his name.

 

[Marshall O]

Thanks for the input Marshall! I was fooled by the "watchman" in his name.

I don't blame you. I wish Live Aquaria would change their name to "..... Sand Sifting Goby" (Diamond, Tiger Wardii, etc). Very misleading when they are referred to "Watchman".

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I had an orange spot prawn goby, very nice looking and can pair with pistol shrimp. Make sure you have a lid, mine went carpet surfing.

 

[tupes]

Heres my pair. Hi fin goby with pistol shrimp. I bought them at separate times and they paired up within 30 minutes.