Found a Pistol shrimp last night. good or bad thing?

[mkengr45]

Well last night I was spot feeding some of my brains and sun coral when I decided I wanted to break up this zoo rock I have. This zoo rock has like 5 different types on it, blue rim green mouth, green rim orange mouth, pink rim orange mouth, green & orange with white blotches, etc... Anyway, I pulled the rock out and brock the crap out of it and out flew this little shrimp with one big claw and one little claw. The shrimp is about 1" long and brown. I had been hearing snapping sounds and was worried I had a mantis shrimp, I guess this little guy is good, no? I read that they make buddies with gobies or something to that effect. I have a yellow watchman, will they help each other out or whats the deal. I put the shrimp back in the tank, hope this was not a mistake. Thanks for reading.

Randy

[Sherri]

I had the same thing happen to me Randy. Kept hearing clicking noises at night and was told I had either a mantis shrimp or a pistol shrimp. It turns out I have a pistol...so I went and got a yellow watchman goby last week. I've been told by some members that it may take a while IF they hook up, so we'll see. I'd leave him - from what I understand, they won't hurt anything. Mine apparently hijacked some LR a long time ago....haven't added any new LR for at least 8-10 months.

BTW - how long have you had the yellow watchman?

Good luck....

[StephenA]

I'll take him if you don't want him

[mkengr45]

Ive had the yellow watchman for about 5 months, but unfortunately I really dont have a lot of time that I can sit and enjoy my tank to have really seen any relation they may have. I guess I will keep him in their and maybe they will hook up. What kind of behavior would indicate they have become freinds. Will they hang out in the same area? Will the shrimp ever ride the goby or anything crazy like that? The yellow watchman is the only fish in the tank, the tank is a 37g tall with about 50# lr, 3" DSB, and 3 65w pc's.

[MikeP]

MK - the real small ones that live inside rocks may not be the commensal type and is most likely harmles. Alpheids occupy a huge range of microhabitats in the wild and very few pose any danger in an aquarium. I have a 3" or so bullseye pistol shrimp that lives in my sump - biggest problem with the commensal ones that will pair up with gobies is their digging gets out of hand if you have a fine substrate such as southdown.

If you ca get a picture I have a few books on crustaceans I might be able to get you an id at least to the genus level.