Pistol Shrimp hunting grounds

[Randall_James]

I let this patch of macro algae grow in one of my tanks and it is about 6" square and about 3" deep. My resident pistol shrimp has burrowed under the substrate to this patch and hunts the small amphipods that are breeding like mad in it.

All day long you can hear him venturing in there, "popping" his claw to stun them and then the macro move around when he grabs them I suppose. I sure wish there was a way to catch this on video...
http://www.mytankpics.com/tanks/albums/userpics/10002/normal_macro.jpg

[ralphie16]

thats funny as hell. my pistol shrimp does the same thing except in a huge patch of mushrooms.

[Randall_James]

this guy has been pretty quiet and a peaceful tank mate until I let this patch grow in (I thought some color would be nice) and it turns out the guy just loves snapping up amphipods (isn't this some sort of cannibalism?)