
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Alpheus randalli
A small, hardy and easy-to-keep snapping shrimp with red bands and spots on a white body, known for sharing a burrow with gobies. It snaps its large claw loudly and shows its natural behavior given a deep sand bed.
Alpheus randalli (Randall's pistol shrimp) is an alpheid snapping shrimp of shallow sandy bottoms in the Indo-Pacific, including the Marquesas Islands and the Seychelles. The white or translucent body carries red bands and spots, the tail fan is red-tipped, and the leg tips are yellowish green. It snaps its larger claw shut to produce a loud sound and jet of water, warning off predators and knocking down prey. Its defining trait is the symbiosis with gobies: in the wild it shares a burrow in sand or mud with gobies of the genera Amblyeleotris and Stonogobiops. The poorly sighted shrimp digs and maintains the burrow while the sharp-eyed goby signals danger through the shrimp's antennae. The shrimp is mainly a detritus feeder; in the aquarium give meaty foods such as frozen foods and sinking tablets. It is easy to keep at 22-26 C, pH 8.1-8.4 and specific gravity 1.023-1.025, but avoid copper and high nitrate and maintain iodine for molting. Provide a deep sand bed for burrowing and live rock, and pair it with a symbiotic goby to see its natural behavior.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Randall's Pistol Shrimp grows to Up to about 5cm body length.
Body length reaches about 5 cm.
The ideal temperature for the Randall's Pistol Shrimp is 22〜26℃.
Origin
Shallow waters of the Pacific (Marquesas Islands) and Indian Ocean (Seychelles)
Size
Up to about 5cm body length
Sources: LiveAquaria / SeaLifeBase
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Accepted name: Alpheus randalli Banner & Banner, 1980
Authority databases: WoRMS
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Temperature
22〜26℃
Meaty foods such as frozen foods, sinking tablets
Cannot tolerate copper or high nitrate. Keep iodine at proper levels for molting. The snapping sound is normal behavior, not equipment noise.
Provide a deep sand bed for burrowing and live rock. Set rockwork directly on the tank bottom so burrowing cannot topple it.
22-26 C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.023-1.025.
Drop meaty foods such as frozen foods or sinking tablets near the burrow. It forages around the burrow at night.
Peaceful and reef safe. Pairs with shrimp gobies of Amblyeleotris and Stonogobiops, sharing a burrow. Very small shrimp may occasionally be eaten.
Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.
The ideal temperature for Randall's Pistol Shrimp is 22〜26℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.
Randall's Pistol Shrimp typically reaches Up to about 5cm body length as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Randall's Pistol Shrimp feeds on: Meaty foods such as frozen foods, sinking tablets. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Randall's Pistol Shrimp varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 15, 2026