How to tell if a pistol is compatible with shrimp goby?

StrongHandsMcGee · #1 01/03/2008, 12:47 PM

Does anyone know how to tell if a pistol shrimp is one of the types that will pair with a goby? I have a hitch-hiker that I just caught out of my reef, and he's pretty enough, but I'd want to put him in a smaller tank with a goby if possible. Here's a pic:

If anyone knows anything about this type of pistol, please tell me everything you know.
Thanks,
Jason

StrongHandsMcGee · #2 01/04/2008, 05:51 PM

Yeesh, more than 24 hours w/o a single response. I see that the boards are full of knowledgeable individuals.

slumpysix · #3 01/04/2008, 06:02 PM

well seeing that you're a LFS worker, you should know what it is, right?

StrongHandsMcGee · #4 01/04/2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slumpysix
well seeing that you're a LFS worker, you should know what it is, right?

Nope. Just b/c I work at an lfs and do climate-related reef research for school doesn't mean that I should know what every single invert in the sea is, especially a fairly uncommon type of pistol. If it's a coral, fish, or fairly common invert, no problem. If I don't know something, I'm happy to admit it and volunteer myself to do some research. I don't know much about pistols, but from the little bit of research I've done it appears to be Alpheus immaculatus. I just wanted to see if anyone else was more knowledgeable about symbiotic pistols and could help me out with a possible ID.

StrongHandsMcGee · #5 01/04/2008, 06:23 PM

Knowlton, N., Keller, B.D., A new, sibling species of snapping shrimp associated with the Caribbean sea anemone Bartholomea annulata. Bulletin of Marine Science, 33(2):353-362, 1983.

StrongHandsMcGee · #6 01/04/2008, 06:56 PM

Just realized that one of my previous posts is missing the end of a sentence. It should read "I see that the boards are full of knowledgeable individuals who missed this thread." I didn't mean to sound like such a...well, y'know. My apologies.

intermision · #7 01/04/2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slumpysix
well seeing that you're a LFS worker, you should know what it is, right?

That's kind of a jerky answer.

AquaReeferMan · #8 01/04/2008, 07:53 PM

Doesnt look like a pistol shrimp that would form a symbiotic relationship with a goby. Most pistols from the Caribbean wont. Mine is from the Caribbean and will not let any goby close to its cave.

StrongHandsMcGee · #9 01/04/2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaReeferMan
Doesnt look like a pistol shrimp that would form a symbiotic relationship with a goby. Most pistols from the Caribbean wont. Mine is from the Caribbean and will not let any goby close to its cave.

Exactly. These guys are commensal with anemones.

StrongHandsMcGee · #10 01/04/2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by intermision
That's kind of a jerky answer.

It's understandable, though, considering that without the end of a certain sentence my second post seemed much the same way.

Aaarrrggg · #11 01/05/2008, 12:03 PM

He looks similar to the ones that LA are selling at the moment: http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden...3285&siteid=20
...just without the blue bits.

LA say they do not pair up, and after having one of the blue tipped blighters myself I agree. My Randall’s pistol shrimp found and paired with my Yasha goby within a day, compared to the other one like yours that wanted nothing to do with him.

I'd recommend trading him in at your LFS if you can. Mine kept killing snails and digging countless holes. Real pain to catch once they are in the display.

Good luck!

StrongHandsMcGee · #12 01/05/2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aaarrrggg
He looks similar to the ones that LA are selling at the moment: http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden...3285&siteid=20
...just without the blue bits.

LA say they do not pair up, and after having one of the blue tipped blighters myself I agree. My Randall’s pistol shrimp found and paired with my Yasha goby within a day, compared to the other one like yours that wanted nothing to do with him.

I'd recommend trading him in at your LFS if you can. Mine kept killing snails and digging countless holes. Real pain to catch once they are in the display.

Good luck!

I already caught him out of my display, and since I work at the only lfs around that gives decent trade-in credit, I doubt my boss would be too happy getting stuck with a shrimp he probably wouldn't be able to sell easily.