strange pistol shrimp question...

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

It may not be so strange but... Do piston shrimp "shed"? This morning I could see a pistol pincher sticking out from behind my rock with the water mellow mushroom. Then when it washed out it was a whole carcus! Legs, pinchers, body and all.
Thanks,
SHOG[img]/ubb/eyemouth.gif[/img]

[scubadude]

Dont quote me on this SHOG but I believe the Pistol shrimp has a Symbiotic relation with a type of Goby where they both share the same hole/cave and the goby will retrieve the food for the pistol shrimp and the shrimp will excavate their hole...and if I remember correct the shrimp is partially blind...and this is why they have this relation. So with that being said the pistol could be VERY vulnerable w/out his goby freind [img]/ubb/frown.gif[/img]

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[This message has been edited by scubadude (edited 04-06-2001).]

[scubadude]

BTW I did find out that this relationship IS true...just cant find the info about the shrimp being blind....Also they DO molt! so your little guy can still be in there somewhere! Their symbiotic partner is a Yellow Watchman goby

Check this out
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...php?threadid=2

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Check out my NEW website

Scubadude's Website

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

[This message has been edited by scubadude (edited 04-06-2001).]

[Downrigger]

My pistol shrimp of two year, sheds all the time. hth

[ConnieH]

If your shrimp is an Alpheus, then he will pair with a goby in a symbiotic relationship. (Yes, the Alpheus is blind.) There are several species of gobies that he will pair up with. I bought a Randall's goby/Ambleyeleotris randalli, and Alpheus randalli shrimp pair. Very cool. The shrimp keeps an antenna touching the tail of the goby at all times.

I haven't seen him molt yet, so can't answer your question. Sorry.

Good luck, and you might want to think about getting him a goby to follow around.

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[Ninong]

Molting (ecdysis) is common to all crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, crawfish and lobsters).

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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[SomeHairyOldGuy]

WOW! Someone was diggin in the back of the vault! LOL!
Thanks again guys!
SHOG[img]/ubb/eyemouth.gif[/img]