Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus randalli)

The Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus randalli), also sold as the Randall's or Red-Banded Pistol Shrimp, is a striking little reef-safe invertebrate wrapped in bold red and white candy-cane bands. Famous for the loud snap of its oversized claw, it spends its days excavating burrows through the sand and rubble. Its claim to fame is the charming symbiotic partnership it forms with watchman and shrimp gobies.

Pair it with a shrimp goby below, or browse the rest of our saltwater invertebrates and reef livestock and supplies.

Care Guide

• Symbiotic pairing: In the wild and in the aquarium, this pistol shrimp teams up with a shrimp goby. The nearly blind shrimp digs and maintains a shared burrow while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard and signals danger. A bonded pair is one of the most rewarding behaviors you can watch in a reef tank.
• Reef safe: It will not bother corals, clams, or other sessile invertebrates. As it forages it cleans up leftover food and detritus from the sand bed.
• Setup: Give it a deep sand bed with plenty of live rock and rubble to burrow under. A mature tank with established microfauna suits it best.
• The snap: The oversized claw snaps to stun prey and warn off threats. It is harmless to people and tankmates, though the click can be surprisingly loud against the glass.
• Feeding: An opportunistic scavenger. Offer sinking pellets, mysis, and other small meaty foods, and it will happily clean up what drifts down to the sand.
• Water quality: Hold stable reef parameters: temperature 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.023 to 1.025.

Specifications

Compatibility

• Best partner: pairs naturally with watchman and shrimp gobies for the classic goby-and-shrimp burrow.
• Reef safe: coexists peacefully with corals, clams, snails, and other ornamental invertebrates.
• Use caution: avoid large predatory fish, hawkfish, and aggressive wrasses that may hunt small shrimp.

Recommended Pairings & Supplies

• Give it a goby partner: False Yellow Watchman Goby or HiFin Banded Goby
• Sinking pellets and frozen mysis for easy target feeding
• More saltwater livestock and reef supplies

FAQ

Will the pistol shrimp hurt my fish?
No. It is peaceful and uses its snapping claw for digging and defense, not for hunting tankmates.

Do I have to keep it with a goby?
No, it does fine on its own, but a watchman or shrimp goby pairing is the real show and is highly recommended.

Is the snapping noise a problem?
You may hear occasional clicks, especially after lights out. It is completely normal and harmless.

Is it reef safe?
Yes. It will not harm corals or other invertebrates and actually helps keep the sand bed clean.