Missing pistol shrimp

[mpw213]

Hey everyone.

I’ve had a white cap goby and spotted pistol shrimp pair for a few months and they seem to be thriving. They’ve torn apart my tank but I see the shrimp daily and the fish every few days for a split second. This morning my blasto was again covered with sand (which happens every night) but I didn’t see the shrimp or hear it at all today, which is unusual. I figure it’s probably molting but hard to not be concerned.

It’s a 2.5 gallon tank so usually pretty easy to see something moving with a flashlight in the burrow but couldn’t spot anything today. Their tunnels span corner to corner in the tank and there’s probably 5-10 entrances. It does look like they closed some off recently though. They were both out and about eating yesterday and buried the blasto at some point last night. Is it normal for them both to disappear like that? I’ve heard they can’t make any noise right after molting either

 

[mpw213]

 

[overhead]

Both of my pistol shrimp have disappeared for weeks at a time. The first couple of times I was concerned, now I just assume they are on vacation.

 

[mpw213]

Both of my pistol shrimp have disappeared for weeks at a time. The first couple of times I was concerned, now I just assume they are on vacation.

Appreciate the input! I figured the day would come that they molt or just hide but I’m still nervous about it haha. Especially since they shrimp is the king of the tank and is out constantly

 

[overhead]

Appreciate the input! I figured the day would come that they molt or just hide but I’m still nervous about it haha. Especially since they shrimp is the king of the tank and is out constantly

I understand. My tiger pistol comes out almost every time I put food in the tank. The first time it did not I assumed it was dead. At one point I had a Royal Gramma that was bullying the yellow watchman goby, both the goby and the shrimp disappeared for almost a month. I have a candy cane pistol shrimp in my other tank, I have seen that thing maybe four or five times total. The goby I added with it died so it is not as brave. There has been no snapping in that tank for a week, but I am not concerned. Give it a little time.

 

[mpw213]

Appreciate the input! I figured the day would come that they molt or just hide but I’m still nervous about it haha. Especially since they shrimp is the king of the tank and is out constantly

I understand. My tiger pistol comes out almost every time I put food in the tank. The first time it did not I assumed it was dead. At one point I had a Royal Gramma that was bullying the yellow watchman goby, both the goby and the shrimp disappeared for almost a month. I have a candy cane pistol shrimp in my other tank, I have seen that thing maybe four or five times total. The goby I added with it died so it is not as brave. There has been no snapping in that tank for a week, but I am not concerned. Give it a little time.

Yeah I definitely wont move the rocks around or anything. And in my 2.5 gallon if either of them died I’d probably see a big nutrient swing (the shrimp is like 4 times the size of the goby)