Removing a large pistol

[AlexReef100]

I had a couple of pistol shrimp hitchhikers that were able to make it into my tank in the beginning but I left them since they were small and didn't cause any harm. Now there is only one left and last time I got a glimpse of him he was almost fully grown (at least 1.5inches). He has already wiped out the other pistol, he has killed most of my CUC (most recently ate my Sally Lightfoot), and he continually tries to snap at my fingers if my hand gets anywhere near his den opening. He's becoming a huge pain!

So my question for you guys is, is there any other way to remove this guy without pulling out all the rock and tearing apart my tank? He appears to be too big for most of the pre-made traps I've seen, so I'm hoping you guys have some sort of trick for coaxing him out or trapping him.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Find a small, clear glass bottle and put a little sand in it. Then bury the bottle near the shrimp's current den and put a little bit of macro algae or some other type of food inside it. The shrimp will go inside the bottle, eat the food and start cleaning it out, once you see a mound of sand outside the opening, you can reach in and grab the bottle with the shrimp inside and remove it from the tank. That's how I've caught them here in NW Florida in the oyster reefs.

 

[AlexReef100]

Should I cover the bottle so its out of the light and he feels safer?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Should I cover the bottle so its out of the light and he feels safer?

Yes, I usually bury it to the point only the mouth of the bottle can be seen. I've also added little bits of rubble or shells around the opening to make it look a bit more natural. Pistol shrimps aren't too particular, they just like their burrows to be dark for the most part.

 

[AlexReef100]

Yes, I usually bury it to the point only the mouth of the bottle can be seen. I've also added little bits of rubble or shells around the opening to make it look a bit more natural. Pistol shrimps aren't too particular, they just like their burrows to be dark for the most part.

I have a large sandy area just to the side of his den opening, hopefully I can get this to work and get him out of there. Thanks for the tips.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I have a large sandy area just to the side of his den opening, hopefully I can get this to work and get him out of there. Thanks for the tips.

Good luck! If that doesn't work, maybe try a dottyback!

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Mine wasn't all that small, either, and was playing Billy Bad *ss in the tank.

At first I put a piece of raw shrimp on the end of a skewer to draw him out. I put it near one of his entrances and he snatched the skewer from my hand and it disappeared. A few minutes later he threw it out the tank with a note attached that said: "MORE if you ever want to see your kids again". I had to change plans...

Not my video, but this worked for me with a piece of table shrimp for bait. I added a piece of fishing line to the plastic bottle to pull it out.