Interesting Symbiotic Relationships

[Karen00]

Are the goby/shrimp pairs always pistol shrimp, or will they pair with other shrimp as well?

From my understanding a pistol shrimp is a natural pairing. I'm positive I have seen some posts on here where people tried other shrimp and it didn't go so well. I'm quite sure there are some gobies that also aren't meant to pair with a shrimp. I am not an expert in all gobies and all shrimp so if you have a particular pair in mind it might be best to ask here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/n...for-your-tank-post-here-and-well-help.200605/

 

[jasonrusso]

Are the goby/shrimp pairs always pistol shrimp, or will they pair with other shrimp as well?

Always pistol shrimp, but not all pistol shrimp. Also not all gobies.

Definite shrimp are tiger pistols and Randall pistols.

Yellow watchman gobies are definite gobies.

Live Aquaria divers den sells bonded pairs

 

[Darren in Tacoma]

You guys are lucky. We tried pairing our goby (spotted prawn goby) with two different pistol shrimp and he killed them both. We changed his name from Charlie to Charlie Manson.

 

[jasonrusso]

Not unusual. My powder blue and gem tang hang out together

I think algae eaters hang out to see if the other one finds something. My foxface and Tomini swim together. My dwarf angel used to swim with them too before I removed him.

 

[happyhourhero]

You guys are lucky. We tried pairing our goby (spotted prawn goby) with two different pistol shrimp and he killed them both. We changed his name from Charlie to Charlie Manson.

My YWG killed a Candy Cane pistol shrimp but has taken well with our tiger. I agree with most of the thread that they are my favorite part of my tank. So interesting. I go to the beach and bring back shells just for the pistol shrimp to see what it does with them. As of now it has a pretty epic arrangement of them to keep the burrow open on both sides.

 

[jasonrusso]

My YWG killed a Candy Cane pistol shrimp but has taken well with our tiger. I agree with most of the thread that they are my favorite part of my tank. So interesting. I go to the beach and bring back shells just for the pistol shrimp to see what it does with them. As of now it has a pretty epic arrangement of them to keep the burrow open on both sides.

Mine uses shells and large crushed coral chunks to reinforce the burrow. Who taught them that?

 

[Karen00]

My YWG killed a Candy Cane pistol shrimp but has taken well with our tiger. I agree with most of the thread that they are my favorite part of my tank. So interesting. I go to the beach and bring back shells just for the pistol shrimp to see what it does with them. As of now it has a pretty epic arrangement of them to keep the burrow open on both sides.

That is cool. I didn't think about putting in objects for my pistol to use for their burrow.

 

[Doctorgori]

nothing unusual…. I got a tang/foxface couple and I’ve seen tank buddies a few other times. Usually they seem to form when young and added together

 

[DoomervilleG]

I'm quite in love with my pink bar goby and randalli pistol pair. Goby "barks" at burrow intruders and the pistol keeps it tidy.

 

[BVF]

Does a diamond watchman goby pair with a pistol shrimp?

 

[DoomervilleG]

Does a diamond watchman goby pair with a pistol shrimp?

Diamond watchman? Is that sand sifter? If yes, I don't think it forms a pair, I believe only the yellow watchman does as well as typical prawn gobies (Pink Bar, Yasha, a few other small species)

 

[jasonrusso]

Does a diamond watchman goby pair with a pistol shrimp?

No. Look for the genus Cryptocentrus Those are the shrimp gobies.

I have one of these.

Bluespotted Watchman Goby: Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums

m.liveaquaria.com

 

[Karen00]

Does a diamond watchman goby pair with a pistol shrimp?

On top of the gobies that @DoomervilleG and @jasonrusso mentioned I have a Hi Fin Red Banded goby that is one of the types that pairs. Some other names for this type are Striped goby, or the Blackray Shrimp goby but most people and LFS's refer to them as Hi Fins. They're a bit smaller than the YWG.

 

[Karen00]

I'm quite in love with my pink bar goby and randalli pistol pair. Goby "barks" at burrow intruders and the pistol keeps it tidy.

That is very funny about your goby!!! I think this has turned into the goby/shrimp symbiote lovers thread!! Haha.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

My newest favorite relationship is my anemone and anemone crab

 

[Karen00]

That is s

My newest favorite relationship is my anemone and anemone crab

That is such a fascinating and bizarre relationship. I understand what the crab gets out of the relationship (arming yourself with a portable stinging machine is quite handy) but what does the anemone get out of it? Does the crab give it food? The pics are priceless of this dynamic duo! Haha.

 

[James_O]

My goby and clowns sort of hang together. Kind of cool to watch.

 

[James_O]

My newest favorite relationship is my anemone and anemone crab

This is another awesome one! My LFS has an awesome display tank that has some giant extreme rainbow BTA’s, and they have 2 anemone crabs that host in the nems. It’s super cool to see them chilling in those long tentacles.