Watchman goby and pistol shrimp

Albz · Oct 25, 2016

So i got a pair of them, they are awesome but stupid shrimp made my water all cloudy loll. will this every stop?? or do i need to remove it.. I have the Fiji pink live sand...

melypr1985 · Oct 25, 2016

I'm sure it will tone down some as he gets toward the end of building his hidey hole. If you can, or don't already have one, a filter sock will probably help some. Let's get a picture of the little guys!

Delta1389 · Oct 25, 2016

Took mine about a week to calm down. Run some filter floss to help it out some. He completely rearranged my sand bed lol. Looks like a deep sand bed in places.

Bronc · Oct 25, 2016

Mine hasn't stopped in 6 mos but I like him too much to get rid of him.

LV3 · Oct 25, 2016

I've had my pair in the tank for over a year and he is working everyday. Never takes a day off. Sock definitely helps.

cmcoker · Oct 25, 2016

Almost 5 years, still get sandstorms, lol.
It ebbs at times but he is generally working on his burrow and kicking up sand. He will occasionally go nuts and cloud up the tank still maybe a couple times a year.
Filter floss or socks will help trap what he kicks up

Albz · Oct 26, 2016

Its actually pretty funny to watch lol... I use to do snow removal as a job and he brings me back to those days hahah... I gt videos but cant seem to post on here.. So i screenshot for picture. When i get home ill find a way to screenshot it

Josett Waid · Oct 27, 2016

Hi! Thought I would ask and see some opinions on the pair since I'm thinking about getting a pair soon. I'm sorry this is not on topic with the thread but it seemed like it was the right place to ask.. I'm getting a 10 gallon tank and was going to only put the pair in there with no other fish, manly since 10g can really only hold 2 fish max in my opinion.. so would the pair be a good idea to get? And I've read that the pistol shrimp may click a lot at night and I don't want that since it'll be in my room and it may get very annoying.. so my main question is, I would like some opinions on if they would be right for me to get?

LV3 · Oct 27, 2016

Personally, I like the pair. I think they add a lot character to a tank and it really is interesting to watch the shrimp. They work so meticulously and with a purpose. Sometimes when I look at really great tanks and see the sand is smooth and level I think it would be nice to have that clean look. Then I look at my tank and see daily that there is a new intricate maze of channels dug through sand and mounds of sand has been moved. I honestly don't mind it. As for the clicking, my shrimp does click often but I think it's when he's warding off other fish in my tank. So if you only plan to have the two in your tank, maybe he won't click his claw so often? My 2 cents.

Josett Waid · Oct 27, 2016

LV3 said:
Personally, I like the pair. I think they add a lot character to a tank and it really is interesting to watch the shrimp. They work so meticulously and with a purpose. Sometimes when I look at really great tanks and see the sand is smooth and level I think it would be nice to have that clean look. Then I look at my tank and see daily that there is a new intricate maze of channels dug through sand and mounds of sand has been moved. I honestly don't mind it. As for the clicking, my shrimp does click often but I think it's when he's warding off other fish in my tank. So if you only plan to have the two in your tank, maybe he won't click his claw so often? My 2 cents.

Yeah I'm just wanting something unique in the tank and they seemed pretty neat. And yes they will be the only two so hopefully with no other fish in there the shrimp won't click to often. But thanks for the reply!

Delta1389 · Oct 27, 2016

Also as a side note, make sure you get a tiger pistol shrimp. I got a blue legged pistol shrimp thinking nothing of it, a pistol shrimp is a pistol shrimp. Turns out that may not be the case, lol. I did some research AFTER I got him, I know bad move, and they apparently don't usually pair with gobies because they actually have pretty good eyesight. I did add a ywg at the same time as him but didn't get a chance to see if they would pair as he was forced to stay on the intake of my protein skimmer and got sucked up and died. I'm going to try one more time to see if he will pair up but he's done very well on his own.

Dahaker89 · Oct 27, 2016

My pistol shrimp is always collecting stuff and taking empty shells into his hiding spot. He's like a mini hoarder lol

Josett Waid · Oct 27, 2016

Delta1389 said:
Also as a side note, make sure you get a tiger pistol shrimp. I got a blue legged pistol shrimp thinking nothing of it, a pistol shrimp is a pistol shrimp. Turns out that may not be the case, lol. I did some research AFTER I got him, I know bad move, and they apparently don't usually pair with gobies because they actually have pretty good eyesight. I did add a ywg at the same time as him but didn't get a chance to see if they would pair as he was forced to stay on the intake of my protein skimmer and got sucked up and died. I'm going to try one more time to see if he will pair up but he's done very well on his own.

Thanks for the insight! There's a fish store we go to that has the goby and shrimp already paired, I believe it's the pistol shrimp you said and a yasha goby.

Delta1389 · Oct 27, 2016

Raul G said:
My pistol shrimp is always collecting stuff and taking empty shells into his hiding spot. He's like a mini hoarder lol

Mines the opposite. Anything large he brings it out front near the glass.

Marta · Oct 27, 2016

I LOVE our pistol shrimp and our pair of watchman gobys. There are tunnels throughout our 150g tank. The watchman gobys are always sticking their little heads out of one hole or another! And to watch that little shrimp shoveling sand and whatever out of his tunnels is amazing to me. Mine clicks very seldom, but it isn't annoying. I wouldn't give them up for anything. Never have a problem with clouding. Have had them all for a few years.

Albz · Oct 27, 2016

Do you guys think a watchman goby and a pearly blue jawfish would get along in a 29g tank?? man i love the jawfish! the colour is amazing!!!

Bronc · Oct 27, 2016

Raul G said:
My pistol shrimp is always collecting stuff and taking empty shells into his hiding spot. He's like a mini hoarder lol

Mine used to grab frags that weren't glued down well enough.

Dahaker89 · Oct 28, 2016

Bronc said:
Mine used to grab frags that weren't glued down well enough.

So does mine haha but the frag plugs keep it from getting buried.

DLJTWO · Oct 28, 2016

I could literally have only a Goby and Pistol Shrimp in my tank and be content... nothing else. I have a pair in both of my tanks and they provide constant entertainment because of how close they are and how much they rely on each other. One thing I've found that works is providing a ton of small rock rubble for them. I took a piece of LR and smashed it into penny and nickel sized pieces and dropped them close to their main hang out. The Pistol Shrimp clearly was cursed with OCD and is always working to keep their home clear and safe. Both Shrimp in each tank took every bit of the rubble and started lining their tunnels with it. I've found that this keeps them more focused on maintaining the tunnels (and rubble) that they already have and less on digging new tunnels. I will upload a few clips of mine in action utilizing the rock rubble. Hope this helps.

Here's my guy in my Biocube doing his thing. Sorry but the Blues were on, hope you can see him grabbing the rubble.

Bronc · Oct 28, 2016

Has anyone had multiple pistol shrimp/goby combos in the same tank? I'm upgrading from my 25g to a 75g and have been considering it if they can coexist.