Pistol shrimp

dickie89 · Mar 9, 2015

Hi people,
I purchased a pistol shrimp on February the 14th. And since then it's been living in a hole in the rock, it came in the rock when the aquatic shop tried to get him in the net he darted into the Rock.
but am worried about him not coming out of there it's been 23 days and the yellow watchman goby is just hiding under the rock. Comes out every now an then!

Any my ideas on how to get him to come out his comfort spot he's made?

cheers!

JVH · Mar 9, 2015

dickie89 said:
Hi people, 
I purchased a pistol shrimp on February the 14th. And since then it's been living in a hole in the rock, it came in the rock when the aquatic shop tried to get him in the net he darted into the Rock.
but am worried about him not coming out of there it's been 23 days and the yellow watchman goby is just hiding under the rock. Comes out every now an then!

Any my ideas on how to get him to come out his comfort spot he's made?

cheers!

It sounds like you're describing my tank! Two weeks ago I purchased a yellow watchman goby and a pistol shrimp they were not paired I put them in my tank and within five minutes they found each other.. Now they are living in a hole in the sand and it was over a week before I saw either one of them again and I thought they were both dead... Now the Gobi comes out every morning and every night when I feed but only sticks his head out about a quarter of an inch and then goes back into hiding..
It is been about a week now since I've seen the pistol shrimp but I know he's there because I hear tapping at night.. I did some research a while back and somebody had said you can hear them tap on the glass when they're digging and at night I will hear these noises coming from the tank so I know he's alive... My advice would be just to hang in there and just keep looking every time the watchmen peaks his head out look on the sides for the pistol that's the only time I ever see mine.. I am sure one day down the road I'm going to find this giant pistol shrimp in there cause he must be getting big.....

Cal · Mar 9, 2015

takes time and if you got big fish swimming around he won't feel as safe.

A+Aquatics · Mar 9, 2015

Give them a few weeks/months to adjust and get used to their new surroundings. Also, something to make you feel better about your new purchase, try tong feeding them with their favorite foods. You'll really get a kick out of your new connection ^_^

fearyaks · Mar 9, 2015

Questions -
1. How big is your tank?
2. Are there any aggressive type of fish in the tank that might intimidate them?
3. Will they come out for food?

dickie89 · Mar 10, 2015

fearyaks said:
Questions -
1. How big is your tank?
2. Are there any aggressive type of fish in the tank that might intimidate them?
3. Will they come out for food?

My tank is 5ft
No aggressive fish just two snowflake clows, starfish, mandarin, white goby and yellow watchman goby.
The yellow watchman does but the shrimp has come out when I droped prawn in for him. But not even an inch as the prawn fell right by him.

Maybe he do it in his own time.

dickie89 · Mar 10, 2015

A+Aquatics said:
Give them a few weeks/months to adjust and get used to their new surroundings. Also, something to make you feel better about your new purchase, try tong feeding them with their favorite foods. You'll really get a kick out of your new connection ^_^

Al give that a try tonight. The other entertainment I get is when I do put prawns in the bristle worms come out and take it off the yellow goby, they're huge, I'm currently trying I catch them but they aren't daft! Haha

dickie89 · Mar 10, 2015

Mine were paired in the shop, but since adding them to my tank I've not seen them by each other I wish the yellow watchman would just stop by the rock to give him the all clear on safety and come an do some digging haha

fearyaks · Mar 10, 2015

I have a 5 footer too. I had a pair of Yasha Gobies and a pistol that were paired in the shop too. After I added them to my tank I didn't see any of them for about 10 days. Then I only saw one Goby and one shrimp paired up in a hole. The other Goby still hangs out on the other side of the tank.

Perhaps they're just nervous? Maybe their main entrance is in a hidden part of the tank?