{"product_id":"curly-que-pistol-shrimp-alpheus-armatus-saltwater","title":"Curly-Que Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus armatus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FBE9E7;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pick up at \u003cstrong\u003e1885 Braselton Hwy, Suite D, Lawrenceville, GA\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\nYour order is reserved — we hold off on bagging until you arrive, so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCurly-Que Pistol Shrimp\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eAlpheus armatus\u003c\/em\u003e) is a colorful, reddish Caribbean snapping shrimp famous for the loud \"pop\" it makes with its oversized claw. A fascinating, mostly peaceful addition to the reef, it spends its time burrowing, scavenging, and keeping the substrate turned over. Add it to the rest of your \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e for a tank full of personality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intermediate — hardy, but best in an established reef with stable parameters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 gallons of mature saltwater with rockwork to burrow under.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72–78°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003epH:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8.1–8.4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.023–1.025 specific gravity (reef range).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it won't harm corals, though it may relocate small frags and shift sand as it digs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carnivore and scavenger; see feeding below.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBehavior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nocturnal and secretive. The harmless snapping sound it makes is completely normal — it's how the species stuns prey and communicates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:6px 0;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCurly-Que Pistol Shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlpheus armatus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCaribbean \/ Western Atlantic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eUp to ~2\"\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCarnivore \/ Scavenger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e10 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e72–78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1.023–1.025 SG\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Curly-Que Pistol Shrimp is a peaceful, reef-safe scavenger that does well in most community reef tanks. Good companions include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeaceful reef fish and other reef-safe invertebrates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReef cleanup crew such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/mexican-turbo-snail-turbo-fluctuosa-saltwater-reef\"\u003eturbo snails\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/nassarius-snails-large\"\u003enassarius snails\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/mexican-red-leg-hermit-crab-clibanarius-digueti-saltwater-reef\"\u003ehermit crabs\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorals — it won't pick at them\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: unlike some Indo-Pacific pistol shrimp, \u003cem\u003eAlpheus armatus\u003c\/em\u003e naturally associates with anemones rather than reliably partnering with watchman gobies. Give it rockwork to claim, and avoid housing it with very small, delicate shrimp it could outcompete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sfbb-freeze-dried-mysis-shrimp\"\u003eFreeze-Dried Mysis Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e — a meaty staple it will scavenge readily\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/piscine-energetics-pe-pellets-saltwater-2mm-4oz\"\u003ePE Saltwater Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e — sinking food it can find on the bottom\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/red-sea-salt-mix-55-gallon-blue-bucket\"\u003eRed Sea Salt Mix\u003c\/a\u003e — for stable, consistent water changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-prime-complete-concentrated-water-conditioner\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — dechlorinate and detoxify new water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e for tank mates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the loud snapping sound?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat's the pistol shrimp's claw — it snaps it shut to create a pressure wave. It's completely harmless to you and your tank and is a normal, healthy behavior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it reef safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It won't eat corals. It may shift sand and rearrange small frags as it burrows, so anchor loose pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it pair with a goby?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Caribbean species naturally associates with anemones rather than forming the goby partnerships seen in some Indo-Pacific pistol shrimp, so don't count on a goby pairing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does it eat?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's a scavenger and carnivore — it cleans up leftover food and detritus, and will happily take meaty foods like mysis and sinking pellets.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48798785929435,"sku":"1575120","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_7a5e3a32-28a6-4ca7-8bcb-be8764286934.png?v=1779387415","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/curly-que-pistol-shrimp-alpheus-armatus-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}