I need some help getting this thing out of my rock.

[7digits]

Yesterday I received a Randall's Pistol Shrimp and a Yashi Goby. I put the goby in the tank and then I put the shrimp in. The shrimp didn't have a chance to see the goby, and swam into a hole in a rather large rock. The goby didn't see the shrimp either. Well the shrimp has been "holed" up in there ever since. The hole is about 6 inches above the sand, and I think the goby has set up a burrough below it on the backside of the aquarium. The goby seems like he's lost his little buddy. He just looks sad. Is there any way to get the shrimp out without breaking the rock? I'd really like to see them together, preferrably in the front of the aquarium. I'd hate to have to move the rock, because I like the way it's set up, and I don't want to disturb the frogspawn living above it. Should I just wait and see if they meet up? How can I reunite the 2 buddies?

[ToddTT]

I wouldn't try to get him out of the rock, he is probably already stressed as it is. I would wait and give both a chance to acclimate to your tank.

Maybe of interest:

How to Start a Pistol Shrimp/Goby Pair | eHow.com

[ToddTT]

What other inhabitants are in your tank? In addition to the stresses of acclimation, might he also be hiding from predators?

On a related note, some important information here:

A Fish Quarantine Process

[7digits]

The only other inhabitants are 2 clowns, a cleaner shrimp, snails and corals. The pistol shrimp is very small though. It's maybe 3/4 of an inch at the most. I think I'll leave him alone for a bit. I wish I could go back and add them differently. I should have drip acclimated them together.

[returnofsid]

I'd also leave them alone for awhile. Give them a bit of time and I bet they find one another.

[blennydude]

I have a yasha and pistol pair also. They teamed up right away, but sometimes it takes a couple days. I know yashas are very shy, mine dosen't wonder more than a couple inches from the den and that's to grab food. Give them a little time, I have never seen pistols live in a rock. They are tireless little excavators.

[7digits]

Any suggestions on how I can get them to set up in an area where they can be seen instead of the back of the tank?

[7digits]

I'm not gonna try to get the shrimp out any time soon, but if I was to need to in the future, how would I do it?

[7digits]

OK, so I'm worried about the shrimp. I haven't seen him, and I'd like to know if it is getting food. If I pull the rock out of the water would it come out?

[ToddTT]

OK, so I'm worried about the shrimp. I haven't seen him, and I'd like to know if it is getting food. If I pull the rock out of the water would it come out?

I bet he is already eating little bits that float into his hiding place, and leaving his hiding spot at night after the lights are out for a while.

You might also use a turkey baster, or Kent Sea Squirt, or your hands to put a little food in the hole.

If you try to get him out, I think you will only succeed in causing stress.

[7digits]

I finally broke down and got the pistol shrimp out. He was "holed" up in a 10 pound fiji rock. I just started very carefully breaking up the rock where I thought he was. It took me about an hour and a half. I was about to give up and call it quits then I heard him shoot and I got hit in the face with some water. About 30 minutes later he was out. I now have about a 6 pound rock and a few smaller rock and a lot of rubble, I also had to rearrange the tank a bit. I like it much better now though. It gave me great pleasure as I watched him dig a burrow while the goby stood guard. I think all three of us are much happier.

[Steve McKay]

I finally broke down and got the pistol shrimp out. He was "holed" up in a 10 pound fiji rock. I just started very carefully breaking up the rock where I thought he was. It took me about an hour and a half. I was about to give up and call it quits then I heard him shoot and I got hit in the face with some water. About 30 minutes later he was out. I now have about a 6 pound rock and a few smaller rock and a lot of rubble, I also had to rearrange the tank a bit. I like it much better now though. It gave me great pleasure as I watched him dig a burrow while the goby stood guard. I think all three of us are much happier.

Home wrecker. I'm glad to see that everything turned out for the better. Now where's the photos.

[7digits]

HAHAHA. I prefer reuniter. Here's a picture of the 2 buddies.

[7digits]

Or maybe here it is:
2nd one is the shrimp kicking up a storm

[Steve McKay]

Or maybe here it is:
2nd one is the shrimp kicking up a storm

Thanks for the photos, I bet they feel at home now.

[ToddTT]

I finally broke down and got the pistol shrimp out. He was "holed" up in a 10 pound fiji rock. I just started very carefully breaking up the rock where I thought he was. It took me about an hour and a half. I was about to give up and call it quits then I heard him shoot and I got hit in the face with some water. About 30 minutes later he was out. I now have about a 6 pound rock and a few smaller rock and a lot of rubble, I also had to rearrange the tank a bit. I like it much better now though. It gave me great pleasure as I watched him dig a burrow while the goby stood guard. I think all three of us are much happier.

Digits, you are insane. I'm glad it worked out.

And your lousy thread is part of the reason I just came home with what I hope is mated pair of gobies, and a pistol shrimp. ;)

It has to be one of the cooler things to witness in an aquarium.

I'll let you know how I make out when I transfer them to my display tank. I'll be plotting the move carefully to avoid any rock-splitting adventures. ;)

[ToddTT]

Wow! Just checked the prices on LiveAquaria for these... not what I expected.

$24 for the Pistol, $60 for the Yasha goby.

Instead of $24 + $60 + $60, I paid $75 for all three.

I'm starting to gain more respect for my LFS.

[7digits]

The relationship they have is pretty cool. When I got the pistol shrimp out of the rock and put it back in the tank I put it in near a rock that I had hoped they would call home, luckily the goby always hung out near it too. The shrimp went straight to it and hid. Then I lured the goby near it with some food. Once he saw the shrimp hiding he swam over to it and blocked it from anyone elses view. The shrimp has now dug a tunnel from the front of the tank to the back. Fun to watch.