How to Keep Pistol Shrimp and Shrimp Gobies

To learn more about these interesting counterparts, head over to our website at www.authenticaq... (website is currently undergoing maintenance).

[@MACNTOSFAM]

They're fantastic in my tank. It makes my kids play hide & seek with them. The shrimp has built tunnels in a section of the tank. They met each other in the tank as they were introduced separately. I have a tiger pistol shrimp & an orange spotted goby.

[@chorebunny8080]

You should do more videos Joshua! This was excellent!

[@nonnernancy]

Thanks for the info. I was debating on getting a pair. Probably will now. Love the wallpaper.

[@map3dsp]

nancy matthews Mee too, that wall paper is mesmerizing!

[@AuthenticAquatics]

@demetrius frazier A mandarin Goby is actually a dragnet and does not pair with pistol shrimp. However if you have a large enough tank (and plenty of live rock) the mandarin can live in the same aquarium as a shrimp and goby pair.

[@ParsonsPre]

great info..will be getting a pair..so cool..i could watch them for hours

[@kaptainkpop6750]

I heard they’ll kill jaw fish or sand sifters and the pet store believes that’s the cause of death for those fish I lost

[@GigglrTv]

Hey, do you com(ment) here often?

[@Swany86]

good size female pistol shrimp

[@jimmynoneyuh7534]

But what about that awesome wallpaper

[@DownSouthReefer]

Wow. That wallpaper and picture is like something in a horror movie. Lol

[@roadtripperbrooxy]

This was super helpful. Thanks!

[@jameelrose]

very informative. thank you

[@stevenpfc]

any more videos coming man?

[@jefflong3010]

Thanks for the video, well done. 2 questions if you know the answers..... 1) I bought a bonded pair of Orange Stripes along with the pistol shrimp. It took them a couple weeks to find each other - even though its a nano, I have plenty of live rock and they initially settled on opposite sides. They (the pair & the shrimp) finally found each other a week or so ago. Since then, the slightly larger of the gobies has developed a clear role as the alpha and often forces the smaller a bit further away from the borrow, seemingly as a lookout. The smaller is allowed in the borrow, but often only at night or if they feel threatened. The other day, I caught them locking jaws. Only once. In one of the luckiest moments of my life, I just happened to be taking pictures at the moment it happened and I captured a couple of incredible pictures of the moment. Do you know what this behavior means? It seemed quite ritualistic. 2) Its a nano-reef, 15G. I've got a little bit of aptasia which I'd prefer to deal with naturally. Do you see an issue with adding a peppermint shrimp?

[@lolgalit]

I olso have nano tank with shrimp and goby like yours. I do not think the shrimp is dangerous - i have few small glass shrimps and they all fine olso i have seen the shrimp "attacking" emerals crab and grabing him and all is well.

[@kinglouis6974]

I’m from the U.K. and apparently we’ve designed a nuclear fusion machine based on a pistol shrimp The heat inside the water when the shrimp clicks his claw is definitely deadly 👍🏼 That’s what’s brought me here

[@thoughtgaming492]

You’re thinking of the mantis shrimp which is similar but definitely different. It’s a lot bigger and a lot deadlier.

[@AuthenticAquatics]

@demetrius frazier Examples of shrimp gobies are: yellow watchman, high fin, yasha, Randall's, and many more. Certain species Gobies will prefer to pair with specific species of pistol shrimp however there are many cases where "mixing and matching" does occur.

[@zziniel24]

i believe there called watchmen gobies fyi

[@AuthenticAquatics]

You would be correct; here in NC everyone seems to just say Goby and it flies, but if you go to Miami to buy one they would look at you funny.

[@dustincmills]

My Randall killed/ate my Peppermint

[@harlanmichael7088]

Thanks for the video!

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Yes, I am currently growing out my nano reef which was just establishing in this video and will be posting a guide in the near future.

[@RupturedCatalyst420x]

loool godangit gary, stop falling in the hole

[@calamari.jaksun8914]

Pistol Shrimp look like mini lobsters to me 😂😂

[@mikehawk9397]

Omg your shirt is amazing 😂

[@tommyp.pedersen9093]

Josh: awesome vid. Thx

[@aquatictanksbymj9632]

Thanks this was very good info help a lot

[@spodgybodgy]

Fish love

[@Kabutops47]

They won't pair I have a yellow watchman but they won't pair the wathman isn't fully grown would that be why

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Hhmm, I doubt that is the issue. How long have you had them together and how large is the aquarium?

[@Kabutops47]

hang on i just relized the shrimp is being nice to the goby so why wont the goby pair with the shrimp?

[@zachhart-bayfield9368]

U feed them shrimp. Isnt that canabalism.

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Depends if you define cannibalism on the subclass level, haha.

[@evanbisch7813]

+Authentic Aquatics what about scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Hey Evan, good question. I never kept ornamental shrimp with my tiger pistol; in a 20 gallon setup, I just didn't expect good outcomes. In a larger tank with lots of rock work, the tiger and the scarlet skunk may stay well enough away from one another and be fine. Its a toss up really, but I would put my money on the scarlet skunk becoming a snack eventually.

[@lao7532]

Do these fish bite other fish.

[@demetriusfrazier4623]

can you use a madaran goby?

[@pleasureduma9693]

No

[@ray7351]

Awesome advice thanks

[@roadtripperbrooxy]

This is a great video!

[@samithawidyasekara4850]

🦀🦀🦀

[@mrkingcasey5786]

mostly harmless

[@triciavima9993]

Great info! Can my tank be 15g big for one pistol shrimp, one watchman goby and two clownfishes? Any recommendations? Thank you! :-D

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Hey Tricia, great question! I personally stock saltwater aquariums lightly; my preference is about 3 fish within a twenty gallon setup with a whole clean up crew to support that (definitely counting pistol shrimp as a cleanup crew member). That being said, if you have adequate water changes and a good skimmer, or a solid refugium setup to help support the bioload, I don't think space would be a huge issue. There are certainly people who have done more or less in a fifteen gallon. In short, space wise you shouldn't see any issues but you may need to watch the aquariums levels.

[@alexman5203]

Can you please tell me the name of pellets you feed your shrimp goby pair

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Hey Alexyt, the pellets are "New Life Spectrum" Marine Formula. A 2.83 oz bottle will last you years in my opinion; great source of crude protein.

[@RadioactiveTurtle88]

Can I keep them in a 9gal❓ :D

[@Kabutops47]

30 gallons theyve been together 2 weeks

[@AuthenticAquatics]

You could try temporarily placing the two of them in a more confined space for a few hours and try to force the bond a bit. Though catching them once they are in the tank is easier said than done. If it were my livestock, I would consider drilling multiple tiny holes (really small so they don't try to swim out and get stuck) into a clean Tupperware container, hold it the aquarium with the lip above the waterline, put them inside and then seal the top with a lid. A few hours may be enough to establish a bond, if not then I must say you have one picky pair. Just a suggestion of course :)

[@mangodumdumdoughnut]

U sound like Sheldon...

[@ThePbstar224]

Bro u look so stoned!

[@AuthenticAquatics]

Bro, so many people have commented that! It must be my default in life.