Replacing a pistol shimp?

[W1ngz]

It would seem that my tiger pistol shrimp died. There's no more clicking sounds, and his goby buddy spends a ton more time out in the middle of the sandbed instead of watching the burrow entrance. The symbiotic pair has always been one of the most fascinating things to me in my tank, so I'd like to re-establish it.

What are the chances that the goby will pair up with a new pistol if I were to introduce one?

I guess the upside is that my emerald crab's life expectancy has just gone up considerably. :p

 

[SuncrestReef]

I had the opposite situation...my goby died and the pistol shrimp would never come out of his burrow. I got a new yellow watchman and it found the shrimp within one day and paired with no hesitation.

 

[JAM-MAN]

I purchased a watchman, and added a tiger pistol shrimp several months later. Bonded fine. There are reports of predatory behavior by tiger pistol shrimp, but haven't noted any thus far. They do get big.

 

[rkpetersen]

What are the chances that the goby will pair up with a new pistol if I were to introduce one?

Quite good. And if they don't and your tank is large enough, you can try another one.