Picked up a candycane shrimp and yellow watchman yesterday. They havnt really paired yet but was excited to see the shrimp build his first cave under a tiny rock at the front of the glass where I can see him. This morning he was out digging and noticed the yellow watchman right by the entrance. Problem was the entrance was gone.. I picked up the rock and couldnt find the shrimp, I dug in the sand and he was buried. After I got him out he took off and is digging a new cave. Question is was he okay or did I need to save him because the cave collapsed? It was a small rock (4"x3") so I couldnt set it on the bottom, the other big rocks I pushed all the way to the bottom.
Pistol Shrimp Question
- Thread starter Waffen06
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Lorenzo Angotti
Active Member
Hi, Yes they can dig themselves out they are like a mini bull dozer wouldn’t worry too much just watch out that if your rock work is not sitting close to the bottom of your tank the pistol shrimp might cause it to move and If you bought them as a pair and were originally together they should pair together but if you bought them separately give them time, generally they pair. I’ve got a yellow watchman with a tiger pistol shrimp and the symbiosis between them is amazing.
xxkenny90xx
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This is normal. Mine has old caves dissappear all the time and rebuilds them. Don't move the rock anymore, you're bothering the new critters that are probably already stressed
Waffen06
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I think I messed up and ruined their relationship. The pistol went to the other end of the tank and built himself a new cave but the watchman stayed at the old spot. He keeps swimming back and forth like hes trying to dig the pistol out when hes not there anymore. Think they will find each other again or should I "persuade" the watchman to the other side to find him?
New&no clue
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Pistols will "bury" themselves at light. They close up the entrance to their cave to stay safe while sleeping. In the morning they will open it back up gain. They will also close up the entrance and make a new entrance on the other side. So if you notice it's closed don't worry he knows what he is doing.
They will pair eventually. My pistol and YWG took a couple of weeks to pair, just let nature take its course. You intervening will probably do more damage then good. I know it's hard I was convinced mine would never get together, they spent all their time on separate sides of the tank... then one morning there was the YWG next to the entrance of the cave and the pistol was working away. When I moved closer to take a picture they both darted in. Now they are besties and you never see one without the other.
They will pair eventually. My pistol and YWG took a couple of weeks to pair, just let nature take its course. You intervening will probably do more damage then good. I know it's hard I was convinced mine would never get together, they spent all their time on separate sides of the tank... then one morning there was the YWG next to the entrance of the cave and the pistol was working away. When I moved closer to take a picture they both darted in. Now they are besties and you never see one without the other.
N11morales
Well-Known Member
My pistol shrimp does this all the time. He usually redigs out the holes every day if they collapse in. Also he decides to use the empty shells I added into the tank for my hermits as support for his caves. he put one on each side to make sure the sand doesn’t slide back into his cave. He has shells on two entrances to his cave but the other he closes and reopened it from time to time.
