Pistol Shrimp - Guide On Keeping The Interesting Pistol Shrimp

Posted by | Posted on 2:27 AM

By Gabriela Desouyez

The marine aquarium industry sees only a handful of pistol shrimp varieties in spite of over 500 of them being recognized. Recently bought live rock has been recognized to house a quantity of varieties of pistol shrimp. Not a big shrimp, pistol shrimp generally come in sizes ranging from one to three inches.

Pistol shrimp have a large claw that, when snapped shut, can initiate the creation of a cavitation bubble. Up to 4700 Celcuis is the temperature of the bubble created. The famous popping sound that is created by means of this motion is also heard.

The bubble is ultimately a weapon utilized to protect themselves or capture prey. While they are able to utilize it on their quarry (small shrimp) they are also known as exceptional scavengers in the saltwater aquarium. They are a burrowing species, tunneling through the sand and even underneath the rock scape. That is hazardous to your marine tank. Unsecured live rock can collapse and may possibly damage the aquarium itself. Their penchant for keeping the sand clean however, more than makes up for having to secure the total rock structure.

A number of species of pistol shrimp are even found associated with sponges. More surprisingly, these shrimp have been renowned to develop symbiotic relationships with a number of members of the goby family. This is common in a single genus of the pistol shrimp family, the genus alpheus.

Both the goby and the shrimp gain from such a rapport. Pistol shrimp naturally have extremely bad eyesight and rely on the goby to warn it when risk approaches. This is done through resting its antennae on the goby's tail and body. Should the goby make any unexpected or swift movements, it will be construed as danger by the shrimp. In opposition, the pistol shrimp creates and maintains the tunnel that both the goby and shrimp live in. Ever vigilant, the goby will generally be seen on the look out while the pistol shrimp goes about its business digging and scavenging for food until it receives a warning from the goby. Plankton that is transported through their burrows become food for the goby.

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