Watchman & Pitol Shrimp With Clowns

[crazyelece]

Well today i got a pistol shrimp to go with my watchman. After seeing the interaction up close in a display at the LFS, I thought it would be great in my nano. Brought him home, acclimated him, then added him into the nano. And WHAM - WHAM WHAM WHAM. My two ocellaris clowns pretty much attacked, killed, and ate him. I would really like to add a pistol shrimp but after seeing that I don't know if I should try again. I love the clowns, they were my first saltwater fish. Would adding a larger pistol work or should I just skip it in this tank and try it in my 30 FOWLR?

 

[Clownfish11790]

How big was the pistol shrimp? How big are your clownfish? Pistol shrimp only get to about 2-3 inches, which isn't that big. I would recommned to try it in your 30gal._CF

 

[steelhealr]

A set of paired clowns, once in the tank, can become very territorial. One other reason in a nano tank that you MUST plan carefully. The reduced room in the tank produces close quarters and many times will cause more aggression to come out than in a larger sizez marine tank.

If you add another one, I think it is most likely that the same behavior will occur. You're probably better off staying with a larger shrimp such as a large skunk cleaner or large blood shrimp. Even then, I'd add them after lights out and, when transferring them. assist them to the bottom with a net. Shrimp/inverst are most vulnerable in that initial free fall to the bottom. SH

 

[crazyelece]

I think my main problem was that it was too small. It was 1 inch max. My clowns have been around peppermint and skunk cleaners with no problems. I know when I fed my ray they would chase and try to eat the ghost shrimp. I think I am either going to try it in my 30 gal because the pair of black percs are much smaller or I am going to switch up the clown pairs and move the blacks to the nano and the ocellaris to the 30. The wife won't like the move though because they are her "nemos"! I know the pistol I saw at the LFS display was about 2-2 1/2 inches and I don't think my clowns would mess with one that size. I just can't find them for sale that large.

 

[Clownfish11790]

Well good luck. Hopefully you will find a pistol shrimp the right size and nothing will kill it. _CF