Who's had a bad Candy Cane Pistol?

[Sw33tdave]

I recently had to take my tiger pistol back to the LFS because my 15g nano was just too tight a space for him and he was unfortunately harming my live stock. If you've got a comment about tigers being too aggressive or natures angels please hold your comments for my other thread "Tiger Pistol Shrimp: A Controversy."

Only after buying my tiger did I find posts from people who had similar experiences and saw that while not terribly common, tigers had be a problem, especially in tight spaces where stock is nosing around their carefully cultivated caves.

I want to try a much smaller pistol now and put a candy cane in the tank but don't want another poor neighbor for my fellow stock. I've scoured the forums and unlike the tiger I haven't been able to find anyone who's had a bad experience with the candy canes. I'm here seeking anyone who would recommend against this pistol in a 15g nano?

This would be my last edition to this tank. End game is reef tank with Zoa and softies.

Current stock:
(2) Clowns
(1) YWG
(1) Skunk Cleaner
(1)Peppermint shrimp
(5) Astraea snails
(3) Mexican hermit


Tank age: 6weeks
Temp:78f
Ammonia:0
Nitrate:0
Nitrite:0
Salinity: 1.026

 

[John Neuzil]

I have kept candy cane and tigers in a 15 gallon with no issues.

 

[Sw33tdave]

I have kept candy cane and tigers in a 15 gallon with no issues.

Can you tell me what you have done for care? Water temp? Feeding? Salinity? What other stock have you kept with these bad boys? I just had a very aggressive tiger that was just wicked to my stock. I know these types of tiger are rare, but they do seem to exist from time to time. I also am wondering if I was doing something wrong that made him aggro and don't want to make the same mistake twice.

 

[John Neuzil]

Can you tell me what you have done for care? Water temp? Feeding? Salinity? What other stock have you kept with these bad boys? I just had a very aggressive tiger that was just wicked to my stock. I know these types of tiger are rare, but they do seem to exist from time to time. I also am wondering if I was doing something wrong that made him aggro and don't want to make the same mistake twice.

All normal reef parameters., 78 degrees, 1.025 pH 8.24. I would shoot him some meaty food at times. I have kept a variety of gobies, cardinals, blennies, mandarin goby, pair of clown fish.

 

[Fritz05]

First I understand there are many species of Tiger Pistol shrimp, and only one will pair with a YWG: Alpheus bellulus with the purple "knees". Apparently the one that looks the most like a tiger is very aggressive! Other shrimp have the same issue (e.g. Peppermint, only a few are reef-safe). I have a Candy Cane (paired with a Yasha) and it is a model citizen. It also is less than half the size of the Tiger Pistol (which I have in the same tank paired with a YWG). My YWG did not pair with the Candy Cane, which was in the tank before it.

 

[Sw33tdave]

First I understand there are many species of Tiger Pistol shrimp, and only one will pair with a YWG: Alpheus bellulus with the purple "knees". Apparently the one that looks the most like a tiger is very aggressive! Other shrimp have the same issue (e.g. Peppermint, only a few are reef-safe). I have a Candy Cane (paired with a Yasha) and it is a model citizen. It also is less than half the size of the Tiger Pistol (which I have in the same tank paired with a YWG). My YWG did not pair with the Candy Cane, which was in the tank before it.

I have very much been thinking I got one of the aggressive tiger look a likes (I mean I guess it is a tiger just a different kind) and that was the source of my problems. I am wondering if my YWG would be happier with a pistol partner. He's very anxious in the tank, constantly swimming in the water column. I regularly have to run rescue missions to get him out of the rear sump.

Do I have to worry about candy cane clones or are they pretty safe?

Here are some photos of my tiger right before he killed my coveted skunk cleaner, Tandy. God speed Tandy-man.