Can Pistol Shrimp Kill Fish?

Pistol shrimp (alpheus bellulus) are small creatures who pack a wallop. Although they're generally quite peaceful, an adaptation to their claws means they're capable of killing relatively small fish. Interestingly, this tropical marine shrimp, less than 2 inches long, has a symbiotic relationship with particular types of goby fish.

  1. What's in a Name?

    • Pistol shrimp are so called because of something interesting they can do with one of their claws. They snap their one oversize claw extremely quickly to create a bubble that moves at around 60 miles per hour. Their snapping can be as loud as 200 decibels, hence the allusion to pistols. The temperature inside the bubble is around 10,000 Kelvin, which is hotter than the surface of the sun. When the bubble collapses, it creates a shock wave in the water that can instantly kill a small fish.

    Goby Fish

    • Three species of fish that pistol shrimp would never kill are watchman gobies, orange spot gobies and Yasa Hashe gobies. Pistol shrimp form symbiotic relationships with these -- relationships beneficial for the shrimp and the fish. The shrimp dig burrows that give protection to both of them. When gobies spot danger, they'll hide in their burrows, and the shrimp will follow suit. The fish warn of any predators that come near, using a special tail movement, which gives the shrimp a moment to avoid predatory attack.

    Aquarium Compatability

    • If you're planning on keeping pistol shrimp in a home aquarium, you'll need to think about their tank mates. You should always house them with appropriate gobies so they can form their natural symbiotic relationship. As they're known to kill and eat smaller fish, keep them with larger fish species, whom they're likely to leave alone. Avoid keeping them with smaller species of shrimp, which pistol shrimp are likely to attack.

    General Care

    • If you decide a pistol shrimp is unlikely to eat your existing fish and would make a good addition to your home aquarium, you'll need to ensure the environment is right to house one. A pistol shrimp needs to live in a tank with a sand or fine coral substrate, so he can dig a burrow. The water should be between 74 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the salinity between 1.023 and 1.025, the pH between 8.1 and 8.4, and the carbonate hardness between 8 and 12 degrees.