shrimp id

[Grits 'N Gravy]

figured this would be the place to find out what a certain shrimp was...maybe there should be a critter id forum? i wasn't able to get a picture of him, as he was hiding in a hole underneath a bubble coral. he is red with light stripes, the first stripe on the front claws is white and the rest are cream coloured. the stripes are all approximately equal in width. one of his front claws is significantly larger than the other and his total length is about 1.5".

he seemed quite friendly as when i turned the coral over for examination, he saw me and came out to get a closer look. i put it down and repeated it several times and he came out every time for a look. i tried coaxing him out, but was unable.

i'm guessing he's reef safe based upon his actions, but would like to get a second opinion before adding him to my display tank. i did a search for reef shrimp, but couldn't find a match. he isn't a coral banded, red blood cleaner, or sexy shrimp which were the closest matches i could find.

thanks!

[Flipturn88]

Could he be a Peppermint (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=701) shrimp?

[majesticangelfish]

I would also say it was a Pep.

Id link.

http://melevsreef.com/id/

Josh:)

[Grits 'N Gravy]

nope, not a pepermint. he's more opaque and the stipes run horizontally across his body.

[jdallred]

My guess would be a pistol shrimp. Peppermint shrimp have very small pinchers. Do the stripes run across the body or the length of the body?

Below are a Tiger Pistol Shrimp and a Candy Striped Pistol Shrimp.

http://www.rockymountainreefclub.com/members/jdallred/p_90061[1].jpg

http://www.rockymountainreefclub.com/members/jdallred/Goby_small[1].jpg

Another possibility might be a Mantis Shrimp.

[Grits 'N Gravy]

from the looks of it, the candy pistol is my guy. the only difference i see is that the lighter stripes are a bit more opaque...maybe the one pictured just molted or mine's getting ready to molt? thanks for the help!

[Flipturn88]

There is a good chance yours might molt. You could get a fish to form a simbiotic relationship with it, such as a Yellow Watchman Goby.

[Grits 'N Gravy]

oh yeah, good idea...forgot about that relationship. i could use a bottom dweller in my tank, anyway. gotta love getting friendly hitchhikers on your corals :)