Tiger Pistol Shrimp Medium
Tiger Pistol Shrimp ((Alpheus bellulus) Medium.
Available for local pickup only
Add real reef behavior to your tank with the Tiger Pistol Shrimp — famous for its powerful snap and amazing partnership with Watchman Gobies! 🫧✨
This hardy little burrow builder forms a bond with a goby buddy: the shrimp digs the home, the goby stands guard. Watching them work together is a must-have show in any reef tank!
✅ 100% reef safe
✅ Burrow builder & natural cleaner
✅ Perfect match for peaceful gobies
Description
Specifications
Video Links
User Manual
Tiger Pistol Shrimp Small
Available for local pickup only
📌 Identification
The Tiger Pistol Shrimp, also called the Tiger Snapping Shrimp, is a hardy, burrowing shrimp loved by reef hobbyists for its unique behavior and its famous “popping” claw.
✅ Appearance:
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Distinctive tiger-like bands of reddish-brown or orange on a cream body.
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One large asymmetrical claw (the snapping claw) that makes a loud “click” or “pop” sound underwater — used for communication and stunning small prey.
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Grows to about 2–3 inches long.
Behavior & Symbiosis
One of the coolest things about the Tiger Pistol Shrimp is its mutual relationship with certain gobies, like the Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus spp.) or Randall’s Goby.
✅ How it works:
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The shrimp digs and maintains a burrow in the sand, where both the shrimp and goby live.
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The nearly blind shrimp relies on the goby to warn of danger — the goby acts as a “watchman,” flicking its tail or moving when predators approach.
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In return, the shrimp provides a safe home for both. Watching this pair work together is fascinating and a highlight in many reef tanks!
✅ Reef Safety
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100% reef safe — won’t harm corals, fish, or inverts.
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May sometimes rearrange sand near rockwork — helpful for aerating the substrate but can bury loose frags if not secured.
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The snapping claw is harmless to fish or humans — it’s mainly used for defense and hunting small crustaceans or worms.
✅ Care Level
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Difficulty: Easy — hardy and adaptable once acclimated.
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Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for a single shrimp and goby pair, but 20+ gallons is ideal for burrowing room.
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Diet: Carnivore — scavenges meaty foods like mysis, brine shrimp, or bits of fish food. They’ll eat leftovers and catch small prey.
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Substrate: A sand bed of at least 2–3 inches is ideal for burrowing.
Water Conditions
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Temp: 72–78°F
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Salinity: 1.023–1.025 SG
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pH: 8.1–8.4
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Stable reef parameters — standard reef conditions work well.
Tank Mates
✅ Perfect match with a compatible goby — they will bond naturally in most cases.
✅ Peaceful with other reef fish, snails, crabs, and corals.
❌ Avoid housing with aggressive shrimp-eating wrasses or large predatory fish.
Fun Fact
The Tiger Pistol Shrimp’s claw snaps shut so fast that it creates a cavitation bubble that collapses with a loud “pop,” generating heat and light for a split second — one of the loudest sounds made by a marine animal relative to its size!