Pistol Shrimp Facts

Don’t be sad if they lose their claws.

If you have a pistol shrimp in your aquarium and noticed that they are missing their prominent claw, don’t panic. They have the ability to transform their other smaller claw into bigger ones while regenerating the other ones into smaller ones. That is why you might find pistol shrimps with different claw placement. It is also the same for pistol shrimps in the wild, which can have their prominent claw either on the left or right, since they can change it within their lifespan.

They form symbiotic relationships.

Though this kind of shrimps is known to have one of the deadliest weapons, they are typically friendly and in fact, form a symbiotic relationship with a fish called gobies. A symbiotic relationship is a bond between two entirely different species that provide benefits for each other. The pistol shrimp provides shelter, while the goby, with its good eyesight, is responsible for security and protection from predators. This is really interesting because they live in the same burrow without any conflicts.

The pistol shrimp has bad eyesight.

This shrimp can’t spot their predators until it’s too late because of its very poor eyesight and near blindness. Being nocturnal, it is common for them to not rely too much on their eyesight. It is also another reason why they need to have a symbiotic relationship with gobies since they serve as a warning system whenever predators lurk around. They spend most of their alone time digging and keeping their burrows intact, leaving no space unturned.

Pistol shrimps are deadly but mostly shy.

They are generally territorial, and most species from different places can be aggressive but they are shy compared to other critters in the tank. They would prefer to be left alone doing their own thing as most people do. However, when disturbed, they won’t hesitate to attack their tankmates with their lethal weapon. It’s best to choose friendly species as tankmates for them or it will not end up well. Generally, pet owners of this shrimp won’t mix other shrimps in the same tank, or else it will eat them.

Red pistol shrimps are good for cleaning your tank.

This species of pistol shrimp is considered a good scavenger and excellent cleaner so putting it in a tank is a great idea. They sometimes get mixed up with the mantis shrimp, but unlike it, the red pistol shrimp is completely harmless. They come in different colors, and their gender can be identified based on the size of their claws. Compared to the mantis shrimp, it can’t break through glass, so don’t worry about spending on your tank’s replacement anytime soon.

You usually need a goby if you want a red pistol shrimp in your tank.

Talking about having red pistol shrimps in your tank, they would probably want a specific fish as a partner, which is a goby. When observed in the tank, the goby and the pistol shrimp would interestingly take turns watching outside their burrow. Moreover, they would live together in the same place, providing each other food, safety, and shelter. It is also the reason why people call red pistol shrimps symbiotic shrimps. Moreover, you need to have a closed tank since gobies are known to jump out from an open one.

They won’t eat your corals.

You don’t have to worry about red pistol shrimps destroying your coral in the tank because they mostly feed on smaller invertebrates, such as shrimps, scallops, mussels, and many more. You can consider them coral safe and friendly because they eat excess food and algae in the area, thus, maintaining a healthy and clean tank. They can also stand as protectors against two different nudibranchs feeding on soft coral polyps. This is also like having the same symbiotic relationship corals do with crabs inhabiting a stony coral.

For communication, they use their claws.

Aside from creating shockwaves that could leave prey completely stunned or even lifeless, they also utilize their claws for communication. By snapping its claw, a pistol shrimp produces one of the loudest sounds in the ocean. In comparison, a lion can produce a sound around 115 decibels, while a pistol shrimp can top it off at 210 decibels underwater. They produce this loud sound by constantly and rapidly closing their claw. They also create a high-velocity water jet resulting force or shockwave that is capable of rendering their target.

Sometimes, a pistol shrimp has tank issues.

If you see sandstorm forming in your supposedly clear tank, then you can blame it on the pistol shrimp since they are all for digging deep burrows. Sometimes, it creates a series of issues in the tank. Pistol shrimps can cause the collapse of the rock works by digging, that’s why it’s so much better to have a bigger tank with a deep foundation of a good substrate, and stable rockwork that can withstand the constant digging. Also, having a larger tank will prevent fighting and killing between tankmates, as pistol shrimps usually venture around the area for food.

You should avoid adding some species in the tank with Pistol Shrimps.

There are a lot of species that would be a no-no to have when you have pistol shrimps in your tank. For compatibility, you should consider friendly and smaller fishes, corals, and sponges. You should also avoid having natural predators of this shrimp inside the same tank. In addition, pistol shrimps could be defensive even if there is no threat at all, so it might attack anything that comes near them. It is also a big no-no to introduce snails, other shrimps, and small crabs in the same tank because they are prey for a pistol shrimp, and a killing spree might ensue inside the tank.