Pistol Shrimps

I set up my tank nearly a year ago and since then I have a a serious of problems.

At the moment I do not have any fish in my tank (having lost them all due to a toxic Boxfish) and my cuc are diminishing rapidly due to what I suspect is a Pistol Shrimp or shrimps.

At the moment all I have in my tank is 2 Fire Shrimps, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, 6 Hermit Crabs, 2 Turbo Snails and a Sally Lightfoot Crab. I have recently lost 1 Cleaner Shrimp, 14 Hermit Crabs and a Feather Worm and a couple of hours ago spotted half a Hermit Crab, which had just been eaten by something. At the rate they are disappearing I shall soon lose them all.

From what I gather, Pistol Shrimps are extremely hard to catch, and as yet using a red light I have not managed to even spot him, (although I have spotted some suspicious feelers coming out of the rocks) - so I have another idea.

If I remove the live rock piece by piece is there a way of forcing the Pistol Shrimp out of the rock once it's removed from the aquarium? If there is, I could thoroughly extract all unwanted guests from the live rock and then replace it in the tank and start again. (I have a small quarantine tank I could set up to temporarily place the rock in).

Although I would prefer not to take my live rock apart, if I dont' do something soon I shall lose all my creatures, and until I've got rid of this predator I do not want to risk adding any fish?

Someone suggested putting the LR in boiling water and literally starting again with the whole curing process.

Any suggestion would be gratefull appreciated.

 

I think you mean mantis shrimp, what are your water lparameters. I would look at that first. Do you hearing clicking and popping at night?

 

probably not a pistol... maybe mantis?

Also, when you said you lost your fish due to a 'toxic boxfish' did you attempt to eradicate the toxins? I would imagine you'd want to use a lot of carbon, etc.

 

Yes, I hear very distincitve clicking sounds coming from the tank. How do you tell the difference between Pistol and Mantis Shrimps.

My toxice Boxfish (and other fish) died about 6 months ago and the tank has had plenty of time/water changes to ensure there are no toxins left.

 

My pistol shrimp hides and never comes out but to feed. They are fast lil bugers. hope you get him soon.

 

My water seems ok -
Phosphate 0.0
Amonium 0.05
Nitrite 0.02
Nitrate 2
Alkalinity7
Ph 8
Salinity 1.022

 

Your critters are doing poorly because you are going through cycles. Also raise your salinity.

 

What do you mean by 'going through cycles'?

 

You shouldn't have any ammonia or nitrite present. If you do, then your tank is cycling... (look up nitrogen cycle) and if you've had it set up for over a year, then something is wrong.

 

My tank has been set up for about 11 months.