Mystery Shrimp Who can name it?

dbati · Jun 18, 2022

Howdy everybody,

I was up late and decided to flash the ol flashlight on my aquarium to see who was working the Night Shift and I saw this little guy flash by me. It’s a tiny transparent shrimp. Can anyone ID the little fella? As a bonus assignment there is also another random critter he scurries by midway through the video. If anyone can ID that too. I’ve noticed quite a few of them tonight as well. Thanks everyone!

Chortanator · Jun 18, 2022

Looks like some sort of pistol shrimp, but not old enough to have colours

DaJMasta · Jun 18, 2022

+1

Definitely looks like a pistol, but a lot of species look pretty clear in their early stages. It could be large enough that you can hear it snap already - I would keep an ear out in the evening and after dark. The reddish sort of striations could point you in a direction of what it could be, but it could be difficult to ID beyond that. Do you know what it came in on?

If it came in on gulf live rock, you could try looking at pistol shrimp for sale by KP Aquatics, ReefCleaners, or similar gulf area collectors for a potential match. It's not likely Alpheus immaculatus, as the coloration is different, maybe something like Alpheus armatus?

Cantusaurus · Jun 18, 2022

It’s almost certainly a pistol shrimp. Not sure exactly which one, but it most likely will find a hiding place and not really venture out, or some may even host or hang out next to anemones

dbati · Jun 18, 2022

DaJMasta said:
+1

Definitely looks like a pistol, but a lot of species look pretty clear in their early stages. It could be large enough that you can hear it snap already - I would keep an ear out in the evening and after dark. The reddish sort of striations could point you in a direction of what it could be, but it could be difficult to ID beyond that. Do you know what it came in on?

If it came in on gulf live rock, you could try looking at pistol shrimp for sale by KP Aquatics, ReefCleaners, or similar gulf area collectors for a potential match. It's not likely Alpheus immaculatus, as the coloration is different, maybe something like Alpheus armatus?

I have a pistol shrimp already that came with the LRs. I bet this one was a baby stowaway as well. The pistol I have snaps a bunch but I don’t think it’s the kind that pairs with gobies. I wonder if this little guy is the same species.

edit: here’s a video of our resident shrimp Pistol Pete https://youtube.com/shorts/GYGvGeHvvww?feature=share