Shrimp question :)

neupane00 · Jan 28, 2016

Hey guys i wanna put a shrimp in my tank, but it creeps me out. I dont want them to come to my hand when i am cleaning my tank/ rocks .. glueing corals etc.,
I heard cleaner shrimps are worst in that respect , where they will come to your hands and try to clean it.. are all shrimps like that ? how about pistol?

Maritimer · Jan 28, 2016

I've never kept a pistol, but can't imagine them doing that. They just don't operate that way.

I've got skunk cleaners, peppermints, blood/fire shrimp and sexy shrimp in my tank, and the only ones who hop onto my hand when it's in the tank are the skunk cleaners. The others pretty much mind their own business. (Then again, it may be that the only ones who "service" the fish are the skunk cleaners, as well . . . )

~Bruce

Preyou · Jan 28, 2016

A pistol is very reclusive and you may never see him depending on where he sets up shop. You will hear him though.

The only shrimp you would likely need to worry about in that respect would be a skunk cleaner shrimp. I have had many other shrimps in my displays and never had any of them other than the skunk cleaner climb onto my hand.

neupane00 · Jan 28, 2016

awesome.. thanks guys. i wanna get a pistol..
@Preyou what do you mean by you will hear him tho

Preyou · Jan 28, 2016

neupane00 said:
awesome.. thanks guys. i wanna get a pistol..
@Preyou what do you mean by you will hear him tho

When you invade a pistol shrimp's territory, they snap their large claw making a sound that resembles a gunshot. Hence the name.

LetItReef · Jan 28, 2016

Our Cleaner shrimps does sometimes but Fire shrimp does not crawl up to my hands.

neupane00 · Jan 28, 2016

Preyou said:
When you invade a pistol shrimp's territory, they snap their large claw making a sound that resembles a gunshot. Hence the name.

oh Thank you.. they wont hurt tho right ? :) hahah..

moulton1853 · Jan 28, 2016

I have a skunk cleaner and a peppermint that both go to my hand in the tank. They will not hurt you at all. Just wave your hand gently back and forth and they will go away. The pistol stays in the borough and never comes out while I'm in the tank. With the pistol make sure you don't mind the sand bed changing constantly because they arrange it to how they like it.

Preyou · Jan 28, 2016

neupane00 said:
oh Thank you.. they wont hurt tho right ? :) hahah..

No... they will stay away from you. Depending on what you have in the display, you may want to consider adding one of the shrimp gobies along with it so that you can witness the interaction between the two. They will share the burrow and the goby will keep watch as the pistol shrimp tends to the burrow.

neupane00 · Jan 28, 2016

what kinda goby should i keep with him? is shrimp goby good? something called White Barred Shrimp Goby ?

Preyou · Jan 28, 2016

There are a number of gobies that will work. Per LiveAquaria, the gobies from Stonogobiops, Amblyeleotris, and Cryptocentrus families are the most common. I am a fan of the Yasha shrimp goby as it has a large streamer on its dorsal that makes it quite attractive.

Irsug1 · Jan 28, 2016

Make sure your rockwork is secure. Pistols make tunnels under the rocks. I hardly ever see mine and it buries corals that are on the Sandbed or steals them and brings them into the tunnels. I'm constantly hunting for missing coral or frags.

smh254 · Jan 28, 2016

I have a pistol shrimp and red striped goby pair very cool but I like my skunk shrimp more. I love watching them clean other fish. I don't mind them climbing onto my hand when I'm cleaning the tank. Hell they will even clean out from under your fingernails if you let them. kind of soothing.

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Maritimer · Jan 28, 2016

Probably a halfway decent exfoliant, as well. Sort of like those "Doctor Fish" (Garra) that folks pay so much to sit with their feet in a tank full of . . .

~B.