The Pistol Shrimp is a very interesting creature which is blessed with a unique appendage, therefore it is named aptly. It is capable of shooting supersonic sonic blasts from their fingertips with enough force to stun or kill the prey instantly. One of its claws is strangely shaped and is much larger than the other. This claw shuts, shoots a jet of water out at such a high speed that it actually vaporizes the water, which causes a small bubble. This bubble collapses with enough force and sends conclusive shockwaves that is capable of stunning and incapacitating the prey. These blasts can also be heard from a great distances and often used to communicate with other pistol shrimps. Also, the Pistol Shrimp allows goby fish to live with it. The Pistol Shrimp basically serves as guard dog, protecting the shrimp from bigger predators, and in return the Pistol Shrimp works hard to keep the burrow clean. To establish such relationship in your aquarium, you must have a well established aquarium with not less than 30 gallons and live rocks along with non-aggressive inhabitants. The Pistol Shrimp loves to burrow into sand, mud, and gravel with their front claws, therefore keeping a thick sand bed is required. It accepts flake, pellet or frozen fare and is not finicky when it comes to feeding. The Pistol Shrimp is considered reef safe if fed properly and may be kept in a nano reef tank. The Pistol Shrimp is easy to maintain and care, thus makes a good choice for a beginner aquarist.
Popular Pistol Shrimp to be paired with Shrimp Gobies.They should be supplied with ample rockwork in which to hide and be fed on a regular basis.Shrimp belong to the Class Crustacea and Order Decapoda, which is characterized by two pair of antennae, three body parts, and five pairs of legs. The head of Shrimp is connected to the thorax and covered by a shell called carapace. The antennae of Shrimp are normally long and thin and serve the Shrimp as extended eyes. Shrimp have highly developed abdomens which allows for quick movement. In order for Shrimp to grow they need to shed their exoskeleton, a process called "molting", which allows them to remove their restricting shell and begin a new one. Often times in the home aquarium Shrimp will leave this translucent shell in full view so it can serve as a distraction while the Shrimp finds a hiding place and allows its new shell to harden.
