What shrimp goby should I get?

[tebstan]

I lost my shrimp goby a while back. There was some rock work moved, and he must have gotten buried in the tunnels. I felt awful about it, but I think the time of mourning has passed any my shrimp needs a buddy.

What should I get?

I had a Tomiyama goby before, which I really liked, but I wouldn't mind trying something different. The tomiyama was really long, 5 inches maybe, but slender. He was kind of a punk, too, which was good.

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/TebstansTank/Fish/TomiyamaGoby6-25-10-1.jpg

I've been looking on Live Aquaria for ideas, if I decide to try something else.

Pink spotted Watchman - My LFS has one that isn't as pretty as the pic, but I thought the tomiyama was ugly in the store too.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-71666-watchman-goby.jpg

Tiger Watchman Goby - I really like this one, but will it bond with shrimp?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-71562-goby.jpg

Wheeler's Goby - This one is pretty cool, but kind of small at 3". It says pairs/groups may coexist, so that's an option. Anyone tried that?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-70977-wheelers-watchman.jpg

Tangaroa Goby - I really like this one! But only 2"!? I was hoping for something larger. My shrimp is almost 2 inches already. It says it may share a burrow with another species, just not conspecifics.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-80422-goby.jpg

Any other ideas for a cool shrimp goby?

[inigomontoya]

Would help to know the exact pistol shrimp, some are mentioned as having different willingness to bond. What about the tried but true YWG? Really like mine.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I've got a pink spotted watchman. It's a big fish for a shrimp goby but I wanted something larger because my tiger pistol is big.

[tebstan]

I have a tiger pistol.

I've had him for about two years, so he's gotten to be good size - I'm assuming a few inches, but I never see him anymore since the goby has been gone. :( I hear him though, and see evidence of construction. He's a busy little guy, making huge piles of sand in some areas and deep troughs in others.

I've heard the yellow watchmans lose all their color as they age?

This is from June 2010, I'd only had them a few months and the shrimp had grown already. The goby was 3 or 4 inches at this time.
http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/TebstansTank/Fish/TomiyamaPistolcloseup6-22-10-1.jpg
Sorry the shrimp isn't in focus, I was trying to get the goby's face

[reeferstace]

I have a blue-spotted yellow watchman paired with tiger pistol. It is becoming one of my favorites. :)

[Reefing Newbie]

A member in my club has a double pairing in her 40 breeder. It is a pair of randall's watchman gobies with a pair of pistol shrimp. The female pistol shrimp doesn't come out often, but the male pistol shrimp is always out working. Very fun to watch videos of this because when a "danger" is present the female pistol will be the first in (if out), then the male pistol, then the smaller (I think female) goby, then the larger (I think male) goby.

[captjab]

My tiger pistol shrimp is paired with a Yellow Watchman Goby and they are very entertaining. I really like how protective he gets when the shrimp is molting.

[kevin32]

Yasha goby + candy pistol shrimp = :bounce2:

[allendavant]

I have a tiger pistol.

I've had him for about two years, so he's gotten to be good size - I'm assuming a few inches, but I never see him anymore since the goby has been gone. :( I hear him though, and see evidence of construction. He's a busy little guy, making huge piles of sand in some areas and deep troughs in others.

I've heard the yellow watchmans lose all their color as they age?

This is from June 2010, I'd only had them a few months and the shrimp had grown already. The goby was 3 or 4 inches at this time.
http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/TebstansTank/Fish/TomiyamaPistolcloseup6-22-10-1.jpg
Sorry the shrimp isn't in focus, I was trying to get the goby's face

What kind of Goby is this? I like it!

[DaisyDog]

I have a High Fin Goby paired with a tiger shrimp. Very neat! I also have a Wheeler goby and a randall shrimp but they are in the back where I cant enjoy them:(

[Silkyslim]

+ 1 on the high finned gobies. I have a pair.

[tebstan]

What kind of Goby is this? I like it!

He was sold to me as a Tomiyama shrimp goby. Not very common, I guess, I've never seen them in stores before or since. He doesn't look like most of the google images, so I just did a little digging...

After all this time, I'm sure he was called the wrong name. He's got to be a Amblyeleotris latifasciata, a metallic shrimp goby.
http://www.travel-images.com/pht/mal-u55.jpg
http://www.travel-images.com/pht/mal-u56.jpg


The hi-fin and yasha gobies are beautiful, but aren't they shy?

My tank occupants are reef safe, but not 'peaceful.' The goby I used to have would swim at intruders with his mouth open until they moved on. If I ever want to see it, I'll need something with some moxy.