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Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Shrimp

Tiger Pistol Shrimp

Alpheus bellulus

A burrowing snapping shrimp best known for its symbiotic partnership with watchman gobies — the shrimp digs and maintains a shared burrow while the goby, with far better eyesight, stands guard and signals danger. Its oversized snapping claw produces one of the loudest sounds in the animal kingdom and is frequently loud enough to be heard, and mildly annoying, outside the tank. It constantly rearranges the sand bed while excavating, which can bury or shift nearby coral frags.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
1.8"
Min tank
10 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Sand bed, Rockwork
Keep one or a bonded pair.
Symbiosis · Pairs with a shrimp goby.
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Tankmates

How Tiger Pistol Shrimp gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Natural partners

A verified reef partnership — better together.

Yellow Watchman GobyThe classic beginner pairing — the yellow watchman goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) and tiger pistol shrimp (Alpheus bellulus) share a burrow, the goby standing guard while the near-blind shrimp keeps it dug out.Pink Spotted Watchman GobyThe pink-spotted watchman goby (Cryptocentrus leptocephalus) and a tiger pistol shrimp share a burrow — shelter and excavation from the shrimp in exchange for the goby's lookout duty.Wheeler's Watchman GobyWheeler's watchman goby (Amblyeleotris wheeleri) shares a burrow with a tiger pistol shrimp — the shrimp excavates, the goby watches for predators.Orange Spotted Prawn GobyThe orange-spotted prawn goby (Amblyeleotris guttata) shares a burrow with a tiger pistol shrimp — the near-blind shrimp digs and maintains it while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard and signals danger with a tail-flick.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Radiant WrasseRadiant Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Melanurus WrasseMelanurus Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Yellow Coris WrasseYellow Coris Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Matted FilefishMatted Filefish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Longnose HawkfishLongnose Hawkfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Christmas WrasseChristmas Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Raccoon ButterflyfishRaccoon Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Pearlscale ButterflyfishPearlscale Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Ornate Leopard WrasseOrnate Leopard Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Arc-Eye HawkfishArc-Eye Hawkfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Marine BettaMarine Betta hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Divided Leopard WrasseDivided Leopard Wrasse hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.