Gobies and their shrimpy friends

[Whoyah]

I was catching up on the latest posts and saw perpetual's picture http://www.captivereefing.com/viewtopic.php?t=2230 of the his goby and pistol shrimp friends. Its an awesome picture and it got me thinking that might be something I would like to add to my tank.
In doing a little research, it looks like there is quite a few different gobies and pistol shrimps that will buddy up. Does anyone have a suggestion on which gobies and shrimp are the "best". I may just copy perpetual98, if he will share what type of shrimp those are.

[ReefNeck]

I am getting a Yellow Watchman Goby & a Tiger Pistol Shrimp. They pair easily as do alot of different gobys with Tiger Pistol Shrimp.

Really a matter of what you like.

[Whoyah]

Thanks for the info. I would love to see a picture once you get them established.

[segraves1]

either a Tiger pistol or a Renalds pistol........most others are not as likely to pair up......

I have a pair of Tiger pistols that live with one yellow watchman.....

[Whoyah]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was doing some research and it sound like they would prefer a tank with DSB with some course substrate mixed in. This allows them to burrow. Currently I am running a SSB with a mix of sugar sand and course (2mm). I am not sure this type of sandbed is the best for this guys. Anyone have experience with gobies and pistol shrimp on a SSB?

[dakar]

No pistol shrimp here, but our engineer goby has been doing very well in our SSB (2-3" all southdown sand). We've had him for over a year, and approaching 5" long and still mananages to build himself some comfortable homes. Though a real 'collector', he snatches snail shells, rubble, and more than a few zoa frags (which frustrates Angel to pieces) that weren't glued down well enough. Quite the character. IMO a SSB can work well for this species.

I might be time to find him a companion shrimp and see what happens.

[segraves1]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was doing some research and it sound like they would prefer a tank with DSB with some course substrate mixed in. This allows them to burrow. Currently I am running a SSB with a mix of sugar sand and course (2mm). I am not sure this type of sandbed is the best for this guys. Anyone have experience with gobies and pistol shrimp on a SSB?

how shallow is your SB? I started out with little more than a 1" SB (a 50/50 mix of 1mm-1.5mm and larger "shell like" 2mm+) in my little 10gal (I did later add an extra 1/2" in some places just for variation) and everyone (both my jawfish and my pistols) seemed happy.......

I have also noticed that the jawfish has taken sand TO "his side" of the tank to make his side deeper (about 4" deep) where as the pistols have moved sand AWAY FROM their side (leaving as little as 1/2" in some places).....