Imagine a creature bearing a large weapon that can create a punch as hot as the sun’s surface, leaving its victims utterly motionless or lifeless. Think about having to see it face-to-face, would it be very terrifying? Of course, the answer is yes! Does something like that exist? The answer is also a yes, but luckily for us, they come in small sizes, and are harmless to humans. Pistol shrimps are considered to possess one of the deadliest attacks out of all the small creatures that still exist. However, despite their notorious lethal attacks, they are wonderful creatures, both in the wild, and in the aquarium setting. Here are some pistol shrimp facts that we have collated for you to enjoy.
- 01Pistol shrimps are only about 4 cm long.
- 02They weigh around 25 grams.
- 03Despite their name, they are really friendly.
- 04They use shockwaves to kill their prey.
- 05Pistol shrimps are one of the most powerful pound-for-pound creatures that still exist.
Don’t be sad if they lose their claws.
If you have a pistol shrimp in your aquarium and noticed that they are missing their prominent claw, don’t panic. They have the ability to transform their other smaller claw into bigger ones while regenerating the other ones into smaller ones. That is why you might find pistol shrimps with different claw placement. It is also the same for pistol shrimps in the wild, which can have their prominent claw either on the left or right, since they can change it within their lifespan.
They form symbiotic relationships.
Though this kind of shrimps is known to have one of the deadliest weapons, they are typically friendly and in fact, form a symbiotic relationship with a fish called gobies. A symbiotic relationship is a bond between two entirely different species that provide benefits for each other. The pistol shrimp provides shelter, while the goby, with its good eyesight, is responsible for security and protection from predators. This is really interesting because they live in the same burrow without any conflicts.
The pistol shrimp has bad eyesight.
This shrimp can’t spot their predators until it’s too late because of its very poor eyesight and near blindness. Being nocturnal, it is common for them to not rely too much on their eyesight. It is also another reason why they need to have a symbiotic relationship with gobies since they serve as a warning system whenever predators lurk around. They spend most of their alone time digging and keeping their burrows intact, leaving no space unturned.
