pair of Red Looking Lobster/shrimp type thing

[cj10488]

I was looking into the tank today and noticed 2 long Antenas sticking out from under my LR along with a set of red pinchers about a sec or 2 later I say another set.. Both in the same area.. I was unable to get a picture but it seems as though this is a pair of them.. The LR that it must have came on it the Liverocks Aquacultured LR.. Can anyone maybe tell me what these might be.. The seem to be RED..


TIA,
James

 

[cj10488]

WEll I must say that whatever it is It likes krill and is extremely quick.. I decided to try a trick them to come out with some krill and well they caught it on the way by and grabbed it so quick that I was unable to get a look at it but that It was indeed a Reddish Orange color.. There are at least 2 of these in there..

Please Help Me...

James

 

[reefrunner69]

Probably some sort of hitchiker shrimp, without a pic there is no real way to know.

 

[cj10488]

They actually look like a coral shrimp of some sort.. REally cool and fast creatures they are.... The right claw is notably larger than the left ones and both have extremely large antenas..

I try to snap a picture and they are gone before the camera can get them.. I will try and see if I can get a picture..

James

 

[reefrunner69]

Now we're getting somewhere!! Do a google images search on pistol shrimp, sounds like that is what you got, way cool hichiker

 

[cj10488]

So this pair that I have Is a good hithiker.. I would say that they are at least 2-3" ea I would think that it was almost impossible to see these when i got the LR but I guess they hide real well

James

 

[reefrunner69]

Actually I said they were cool, not good I don't think they are either good or bad, they just are.

 

[cj10488]

Am I going to have an Issue with adding a Mandrin tomorrow since the mandrin is a bottom feeder.. Will this shrimp bother it at all do ya think?

James

 

[reefrunner69]

Not because of the shrimp, but because the tank is too small and new to support a mandarin.

 

[kidafius]

I think pistol shrimp are the ones that are known to develop symbiotic relationships with gobys, no?

 

[cj10488]

Kidafius You are correct but a mandrin is a dragonet but is quite often confused with a goby.. but its species is a Dragonet.. I dont believe the 2 would have symbolic relationships but I have seen some strange things..

James

 

[cj10488]

Well I as well Emailed Liverocks.com as they probably see them many times a day since they are in the liverock business as well as me getting the LR from them.. This is the email that came back

Very cool. You have Blue legged pistol shrimp. When they are out (rare) you will see the bright blue legs, an orange body and a white stripe that runs down the lengtht. They typically will live in the sand under a rock and create a hole that will become part of a tunnel system in your sand layer. A very good sand stir creature they will often pair up and mate in the tank environment. You will hear them "pop" when an intruder tries to enter their hole and the pair will defend the opening together. The pop is often mistaken for mantis shrimp and is created in the oversized claw. They are common on our lease sites both in the keys and the Gulf and hopefully you have more than one. Very nice!

Thanks Again Guys And Thanks Kev.. You hit it right on the head AS USUAL lol

James

 

[pufferman]

are the shrimp making any cracking noise like a gun going off? if they are then they are pistol shrimp