Pistol shrimp / goby pair question

[dmolavi]

I added in a pair about a week ago, at the same time, in the same area of the tank (it's a small, 20g nano).

Of course, since nothing goes right the first time, the shrimp darted to the left side of the tank, while the goby went right. Both have established burrows on their respective sides under the rock. The shrimp has even made a small network of tunnels/burrows that come ever so close to the goby's home, but not close enough for them to pair up again.

Is there anything I can do to get them to pair back up, or will the shrimp eventually make his way over to the goby via his vast underground network of tunnels?

[dmolavi]

I should add that feeding is a major PITA right now. I know where the goby is, and can get him food easily, but the shrimp is dang near impossible to find (it's like playing Where's Waldo? ... he's even red and white striped ) since he's usually in one of his burrows...

[Raleighfishnerd]

I see mine on opposite sides of the tank occasionally. Just the goby swimming around never the shrimp solo. Your pistol will eat all kinds of stuff he finds in the sand such as worms and pods.

[dmolavi]

Since the tank is a nano, I don't have a fuge to grow pods, and I never explicitly introduced anything else into the tank, so I'm trying to target feed the bugger.

The goby stays tucked away most of the time since the clowns are still getting used to him.

[AquaRick]

Originally Posted by dmolavi

I added in a pair about a week ago, at the same time, in the same area of the tank (it's a small, 20g nano).

Of course, since nothing goes right the first time, the shrimp darted to the left side of the tank, while the goby went right. Both have established burrows on their respective sides under the rock. The shrimp has even made a small network of tunnels/burrows that come ever so close to the goby's home, but not close enough for them to pair up again.

Is there anything I can do to get them to pair back up, or will the shrimp eventually make his way over to the goby via his vast underground network of tunnels?

IME, target feeding pistol shrimps is a waste of time. Just feed your tank. The goby will come out for it. The shrimp will eventually pair up with the shrimp in time.

[Beachaquatics]

If they were a pair before , they will pair again, I come across this a lot, next time put cup upside down on them in the sand then slowly lift it off after bout 20 mins, works for me all the time!

[dmolavi]

They're back together