Sooo, The heck with Hermit crabs!

[Regular_Reefer]

Tiger pistol shrimps will actively hunt down smaller snails, hermit crabs, and coral frags.


The tiger pistol shrimp will go medieval on your snails and crabs for you.

I have to replace snails and crabs about once a year because of the pistol shrimp. It has an expensive diet.

I havnt witnessed my pistol go hunting, but man does he get mad if a snail or hermit walk to close to his cave opening, rolls them away like a disgruntled union worker

 

[coralfishreef]

I havnt witnessed my pistol go hunting, but man does he get mad if a snail or hermit walk to close to his cave opening, rolls them away like a disgruntled union worker

Candy cane pistols don’t kill snails from what I’ve seen (or not seen).

Without predators in the tank, the tiger pistol can go out in the open relatively far, but no they don’t go out to hunt from what I’ve seen. Like you noted, the ones I’ve had only ‘hunt’ near their burrow entrance.

I had a tiger pistol shrimp live for around 9 years. It died in the last move, but it killed many snails and hermits in its lifetime. Ironically, the last time I saw it was with its meaty tail in the mouth of its goby ‘protector’.

My current tiger shrimp has also killed many small snails and hermits. From what I’ve seen they will go after any smaller snails or hermits that wander past their burrow entrance. Cerith, nassarius, nerite, margarita, spiny astraea, smaller astraeas eventually all become food.

 

[Uncle99]

They are useful. Snails can’t reach some areas. Also they clean tge food in the sand that fish Miss. they will if underfed nip and sps polys I think.

Nip at polyps?
I wish I was so lucky.
Losing nothing now.
Not worth the risk, IMO

 

[305]

I just ordered a reef cleaners hermit and snail pack about a week ago to put in my tank, the snails have been great, but today, the stupid hermit crabs killed my yellow watchman goby. I didn't think they were capable of it but he was pretty small still about 1.5 to 2 inches. He was happy and healthy in my tank for ~5 months and was out eating today. I didn't see them get him just the after math.

Since he was a daredevil and looked so cool, he was the favorite fish in the aquarium for the whole family. I would like to replace him, but I'm wondering now if a pistol shrimp would have kept him safe from the stupid crabs. I would be quite happy to yank all of them out and just let the murderous jerks die at the moment!

What do you think? Will a new YWG be okay in there with a pistol shrimp, or should I just go all medieval on the crabs?

I say he got balsy.. went thru a powerhead. Got shot out like a cannon.. hermits came and finished the job..