Yellow Watchman Goby and Tiger Pistol Shrimp During Feeding Time

This is the Yellow Watchman Goby and Tiger Pistol Shrimp that share a symbiotic relationship in my reef tank (as these species do in the wild). The pistol shrimp is an excellent cave builder, but has poor eyesight. He provides shelter to the goby by sharing his home, and the goby returns the favor by warning the pistol shrimp of potential predators. This is one of the neatest examples of interspecies symbiosis in nature, in my opinion!

During this video, I have just fed the tank so you will see bits of food floating by (and the goby "catching" it.) You will also see the shrimp coming out of the cave and occasionally pushing sand out as he continues his never-ending construction project.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• yellow
• watchman
• goby
• tiger
• pistol
• shrimp
• reef
• tank
• aquarium
• symbiosis
• symbiotic

[troywawrz]

i have a yellowatchman goby i have crushed coral is that bad for him? also he hasnt dug a burow he just goes under a rock. i want a pistol shrimp are they agresive? and would he make friends with the goby

[cworkman74]

Yellowwatchman gobies like to lay on the sand bed, so crushed coral is probably a little rough for them.

The burrow you see was dug by the shrimp. Before I got the shrimp, the Goby just found places in the rock work to live.

In my experience, tiger pistol shrimp aren't aggressive. But some people say to watch them cautiously just in case since they can be opportunistic feeders. I haven't seen any issues with mine.

[cworkman74]

I had the goby for a few months before placing the pistol shrimp in the tank. They paired up almost immediately. However, I know some people can have trouble getting them to pair up. It's kind of hit or miss.

[MrTlTO]

Dose it clean the sand like a diamond goby ??

[cworkman74]

No, the yellow watchman goby isn't a sand sifter like a diamond goby.

[MrChrisDilly]

What kind of sand is that? Is that play sand or actual ocean sand? Its gorgeous

[cworkman74]

It's Carrib Sea Aragamax sand. It's very white once in the tank and is very fine.

[fishman807]

hey im geting gobys i need advice got any

[TheDarkGoby]

I love this video! I *really* want to get a YWG TPS pair pretty soon! :D

[nickoswoos]

im really curious how big that tunnel they both sprang out of was. such a job to watch the team work, really adds character to your tank

[msimmons1906]

Cool vid. I just got my YWG and added the pistol yesterday. I paired them today by catching the goby and laying the net in front of the burrow. He eventually left the net and went straight for the burrow. I wonder if the shrimp excretes a scent or something to attract the goby.

[darktrop11]

awesome im planning on getting a pair in the near funture. how agressive are the pistol shrimps against other fish?

[gookluck1]

so how did the shrimp did eat if he keep on building? (pm me)

[StefanTyler92]

hahah the shrimp just picks up the snails and moves them out of the way!

[TheDarkGoby]

That is awesome! Watchman Goby is on my #1 priority list for my 55-75g SW tank I am setting up! Have you ever had any problem with the YWG or the pistol shrimp?

[vijomyda]

how long did it take u 2 for them to pair up and is it a 100% the will pair up?