Help ID Pistol Shrimp

Shark888 · 04/22/2018, 02:30 AM

Hello,

Can someone tell me if this is a pistol shrimp ?

Here the Chinese call it simply Purple Shrimp.

Crooked Reef · 04/22/2018, 08:35 PM

Not a pistol shrimp. Commonly called the purple reef lobster. Enoplometopus debelius is the Latin name.

Shark888 · 04/23/2018, 09:57 AM

Thank you for your detailed answer.

Shark888 · 04/24/2018, 08:17 AM

I found another seller advertising as a pistol shrimp.

Also I saw somewhere that there are few kind of pistol, the most peaceful one being the randall kind.

Appreciate if someone could confirm which one is the one on pics.

Shark888 · 04/25/2018, 02:59 AM

Up

Shark888 · 04/26/2018, 12:49 PM

I got today this Pistol Shrimp (I hope it is lol) and its now in my QT, can someone tell me which kind it is, Im guessing its a tiger pistol shrimp ??

It looks huge, his body approx 2.5 inches and in all with claw 4 inches. By the way do you think my hermit crabs and skunk shrimp will be in danger once added to DT ?

mndfreeze · 04/27/2018, 03:20 AM

I'm pretty sure that is NOT a tiger pistol shrimp. Tiger pistols have patterns on them similar to an actual tiger, hence the name.

https://www.reeflifeaquariums.com/v/...l-Shrimp-2.jpg

There are a lot of predatory pistol shrimp. You really should research a species BEFORE you buy it. There is even a nature documentary (either blue planet or planet earth, I dont remember which now) that shows some pistol shrimp killing a cleaner shimp.

Crooked Reef · 04/27/2018, 07:37 AM

Put a hermit in qt with the shrimp. See if it survives. Hermits kill each other constantly so once added to the display tank you may never know if the shrimp is killing them or they are killing each other.

I also agree that doesn’t look like any tiger pistol shrimp I have ever seen. Tiger pistol shrimp is a name given by hobbyists and stores for easy recognition because Latin names can be tough to memorize. The ones over in America that are referred to tiger pistol shrimp only get to a maximum size of 1.5-2 inches without antenna. If yours has a body of 2.5 inches and 4 inches with the claw, it’s not the same species, not even a color morph. In China though that species may very well be commonly referred to as a tiger pistol.

Crooked Reef · 04/27/2018, 07:47 AM

Probably a stretch, but any idea where is was collected from? It’s definitely an Alpheus species but I can’t find the color pattern anywhere. Some crustaceans can change colors when they molt to blend in with their surroundings, go from red to green for example. Knowing where it was collected may help narrow it down.

Shark888 · 04/27/2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mndfreeze

I'm pretty sure that is NOT a tiger pistol shrimp. Tiger pistols have patterns on them similar to an actual tiger, hence the name.

https://www.reeflifeaquariums.com/v/...l-Shrimp-2.jpg

There are a lot of predatory pistol shrimp. You really should research a species BEFORE you buy it. There is even a nature documentary (either blue planet or planet earth, I dont remember which now) that shows some pistol shrimp killing a cleaner shimp.

I have research a lot before buy it, but there are not a lot info about this color one especially. Even on this forum I got no answers and finally you can say that there is only one online seller selling this pistol in China. I searched a lot and I really want one pistol to pair with a Goby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crooked Reef

Put a hermit in qt with the shrimp. See if it survives. Hermits kill each other constantly so once added to the display tank you may never know if the shrimp is killing them or they are killing each other.

I also agree that doesn’t look like any tiger pistol shrimp I have ever seen. Tiger pistol shrimp is a name given by hobbyists and stores for easy recognition because Latin names can be tough to memorize. The ones over in America that are referred to tiger pistol shrimp only get to a maximum size of 1.5-2 inches without antenna. If yours has a body of 2.5 inches and 4 inches with the claw, it’s not the same species, not even a color morph. In China though that species may very well be commonly referred to as a tiger pistol.

Yes, good idea I will try one of my evil hermit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crooked Reef

Probably a stretch, but any idea where is was collected from? It’s definitely an Alpheus species but I can’t find the color pattern anywhere. Some crustaceans can change colors when they molt to blend in with their surroundings, go from red to green for example. Knowing where it was collected may help narrow it down.

I will ask tomorrow the seller about where it was collected. I am not sure but I found something online about the Smooth snapping pistol shrimp, it looks very similar with what I have. Any info about it ?

By the way I have added from my DT sump a sponge filter seeded of beneficial bacteria with some ampiphod, copepods on it and it has started to shoot at them.

04/22/2018, 08:35 PM	#2
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Not a pistol shrimp. Commonly called the purple reef lobster. Enoplometopus debelius is the Latin name. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

04/27/2018, 07:37 AM	#8
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Put a hermit in qt with the shrimp. See if it survives. Hermits kill each other constantly so once added to the display tank you may never know if the shrimp is killing them or they are killing each other. I also agree that doesn’t look like any tiger pistol shrimp I have ever seen. Tiger pistol shrimp is a name given by hobbyists and stores for easy recognition because Latin names can be tough to memorize. The ones over in America that are referred to tiger pistol shrimp only get to a maximum size of 1.5-2 inches without antenna. If yours has a body of 2.5 inches and 4 inches with the claw, it’s not the same species, not even a color morph. In China though that species may very well be commonly referred to as a tiger pistol. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

04/27/2018, 07:47 AM	#9
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Probably a stretch, but any idea where is was collected from? It’s definitely an Alpheus species but I can’t find the color pattern anywhere. Some crustaceans can change colors when they molt to blend in with their surroundings, go from red to green for example. Knowing where it was collected may help narrow it down. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

04/23/2018, 09:57 AM	#3
Shark888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: French in China Posts: 178	Thank you for your detailed answer.

04/25/2018, 02:59 AM	#5
Shark888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: French in China Posts: 178	Up

04/27/2018, 03:20 AM	#7
mndfreeze Invert Sexy Time! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 2,255	I'm pretty sure that is NOT a tiger pistol shrimp. Tiger pistols have patterns on them similar to an actual tiger, hence the name. https://www.reeflifeaquariums.com/v/...l-Shrimp-2.jpg There are a lot of predatory pistol shrimp. You really should research a species BEFORE you buy it. There is even a nature documentary (either blue planet or planet earth, I dont remember which now) that shows some pistol shrimp killing a cleaner shimp.