Catching a Pistol Shrimp

SuperScro · 06-13-2007, 03:03 PM

I was going to get a Blood/Fire Shrimp in my tank once my LFS gets one in stock, but I remember recently that I still have a pistol shrimp in my tank. I never bought the shrimp, it just came out of my Live rock when i first bought it 6 months ago. It was small then, hard to identify. At the time it looked like a bullseye pistol shrimp, but after that day I didn't see it until I moved my rock around again a couple months later. I would say that I would see him an average of once per month. I noticed him in one rock every once in a while, but he is extremely aware of my presence. I completely forgot he existed in my tank for 4 strait months until i saw him the other day, when he darted out of the one rock and snatched mysis shrimp I put in the tank. I got a slight look at him. He isn't really big, about 1.5 inches or so, and he was mostly orange with possible some blue coloring. I think it would be impossible to get him out of the rock, and trapping him doesn't sound very easy.

I am pretty sure he will attack my shrimp, or when he gets bigger. I feel removing him if it is necessary will be a difficult process, even harder than when I tried to remove a large hitchiker crab.

amcarrig · 06-14-2007, 05:45 AM

It would be difficult because they don't burrow into rock like a mantis will. You would have to remove the rock(s) that it builds its burrows under.

nemo79 · 06-14-2007, 09:17 AM

my pistol lives in my rock and never leaves. I know it's not a mantis because I have seen it. I read that pistols will burrow in rocks. I personally would love to catch mine as well.

SuperScro · 06-14-2007, 11:09 AM

I saw a good look at him. Definatly a pistol shrimp. Its online with a dark blue line going down his back. I saw the "pistol claw" so I know it for a fact is one. The rock I have is really porous and has a ton of different places it can hide it. Would carbonated water work?

fletch · 06-14-2007, 01:41 PM

First off you will be needing a pistol permit, Sorry about that.

You could try a glass jar with a piece of shrimp in it filled with tank water and covered with plastic wrap with a cut in it, Placed in front of it's home. You can use a rubber band to hold the plastic wrap on the jar. May work and May not

Just a thought

MDeth · 06-14-2007, 02:22 PM

Short of re-aquascaping COMPLETELY and risking destroying your sandbed there is no good way.

I'd try a couple of different traps :/

Kentanner11 · 06-14-2007, 03:52 PM

Interesting Jar thing! I think DRS. Foster Smith have a trap? Not for sure, you might want to look!

amcarrig · 06-14-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fletch

First off you will be needing a pistol permit, Sorry about that.

What, are you currently attending the JohnO School of Bad Jokes?

SuperScro · 06-14-2007, 04:23 PM

I don't have good luck with traps. Tried using one to get a crab but that never worked, so I resulted into squashing him with a rock. In this case its harder. I will try the glass trick tho.

fletch · 06-14-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amcarrig

What, are you currently attending the JohnO School of Bad Jokes?

Yup that one defiantly came from down under

06-13-2007, 03:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
SuperScro Flamingo Tongue Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Jersey Age: 20 Posts: 116 Skin: Mint Karma: 13	Catching a Pistol Shrimp I was going to get a Blood/Fire Shrimp in my tank once my LFS gets one in stock, but I remember recently that I still have a pistol shrimp in my tank. I never bought the shrimp, it just came out of my Live rock when i first bought it 6 months ago. It was small then, hard to identify. At the time it looked like a bullseye pistol shrimp, but after that day I didn't see it until I moved my rock around again a couple months later. I would say that I would see him an average of once per month. I noticed him in one rock every once in a while, but he is extremely aware of my presence. I completely forgot he existed in my tank for 4 strait months until i saw him the other day, when he darted out of the one rock and snatched mysis shrimp I put in the tank. I got a slight look at him. He isn't really big, about 1.5 inches or so, and he was mostly orange with possible some blue coloring. I think it would be impossible to get him out of the rock, and trapping him doesn't sound very easy. I am pretty sure he will attack my shrimp, or when he gets bigger. I feel removing him if it is necessary will be a difficult process, even harder than when I tried to remove a large hitchiker crab. _________ 36g Bowfront Reef 45 Pound of Live Rock Bak Pak 2r Protein Skimmer T5HO 36" 156 watts SEIO 620 Powerhead, Maxijet 1200 Purple Firefish, Occellaris Clownish Trumpet Coral, Green Fungia Plate Emerald Crab, Several Red leg hermits, Assortment of Snails

06-14-2007, 05:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
amcarrig 3reef Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CT Age: 40 Posts: 8,235 Skin: Classic Karma: 63726	It would be difficult because they don't burrow into rock like a mantis will. You would have to remove the rock(s) that it builds its burrows under. _________

06-14-2007, 09:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
nemo79 Zoanthid Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 1,116 Skin: Mint Karma: 199	my pistol lives in my rock and never leaves. I know it's not a mantis because I have seen it. I read that pistols will burrow in rocks. I personally would love to catch mine as well. _________ 20g 25lbs LR 1 hydor koralia rio nano skimmer FISH: blk/white clown, damsel, yellow watchman goby CORAL: grn open brain, acan, torch, rics, toadstool, zoo's INVERT:[/U] hermits, nassarius, astrea, turbo's, nerites, crocea clam .

06-14-2007, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
fletch Kole Tang Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,776 Skin: Mint Karma: 425	First off you will be needing a pistol permit, Sorry about that. You could try a glass jar with a piece of shrimp in it filled with tank water and covered with plastic wrap with a cut in it, Placed in front of it's home. You can use a rubber band to hold the plastic wrap on the jar. May work and May not Just a thought _________ 150 Gallon Reef Tank, 50 gallon sump,1/2 hp Chiller,MRC Calcium Reactor,AE-Tec ETSS 600 skimmer, 2-400 watt mh with 2-110 watt actinic's. Pentair Aquatics 80 watt UV Sterilizer, Red Sea AquaZone 100 ozonizer.

06-14-2007, 02:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
MDeth Feather Star Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: IL Age: 21 Posts: 790 Skin: Mint Karma: 518	Short of re-aquascaping COMPLETELY and risking destroying your sandbed there is no good way. I'd try a couple of different traps :/ _________ No tank for now

06-14-2007, 11:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
SuperScro Flamingo Tongue Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Jersey Age: 20 Posts: 116 Skin: Mint Karma: 13	I saw a good look at him. Definatly a pistol shrimp. Its online with a dark blue line going down his back. I saw the "pistol claw" so I know it for a fact is one. The rock I have is really porous and has a ton of different places it can hide it. Would carbonated water work?

06-14-2007, 03:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kentanner11 Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 364 Skin: Mint Karma: 201	Interesting Jar thing! I think DRS. Foster Smith have a trap? Not for sure, you might want to look! _________ http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...anner11a-2.jpg http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...vertcolors.jpg

06-14-2007, 04:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
SuperScro Flamingo Tongue Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Jersey Age: 20 Posts: 116 Skin: Mint Karma: 13	I don't have good luck with traps. Tried using one to get a crab but that never worked, so I resulted into squashing him with a rock. In this case its harder. I will try the glass trick tho.

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