Clicking Noise

[TBLightningFan]

I already know what the answer to what the clicking noise is. Now how do I get rid of the guy? Any suggestions?

I think I know where he is hiding But of course the rock hes (probably) in is the in the bottom center of the pile. I would have to move everything again to get that piece out.

I haven't noticed anything missing yet thank goodness... but I need to get rid of this stomatopod before he does go after my creatures.

 

[Navarre]

Are you sure its a mantis? Have you seen it?

 

[TBLightningFan]

I havent seen it.... but it is a very loud clicking that is occuring. Loud enough to disturb sleep as the tank is in my bedroom. Could it be anything else besides a mantis?

Last night at the base of the rock there was an opening. This morning sand is covering the entrance to the rock and you can tell the sand was moved into place.

I am gonna double check to see if my peppermint shrimp is still there. I would think he would be the first target.

 

[Navarre]

Ok...

It "might" be a pistol shrimp. The difference between a pistol shrimp and the noise that a mantis can make is that a pistol takes a moment to recharge its calw to click again. However, a mantis doesnt need to do this becuase it just beats the hell out of whatever is in front of it. So if its a rapid succession of clicks then its probably a mantis, if its just a single click or a regular series of clicks then its likely to be a pistol shrimp.

Failing this of course it might not be a shrimp at all.. It might be a turbo snail bashing its shell against the glass as they sometimes to this to dislodge unwanted hitchikers.

 

[TBLightningFan]

I am thinking it is a Pistol shrimp after some research. Here is what I found. Based on these descriptions I would have to be the Pistol. We only hear the clicking at night. The sound has NEVER happened with the lights on. And when it does sound it always sounds exactly the same, like the marble hitting the glass. I would imagine a mantis hit would sound different, depending on what it is hitting. Plus add in the fact nothing is missing in the midst of all the clicking.

I am only a little unsure cause I have never seen it to be sure.

Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus spp.) - Also known as Click Shrimp, Popping Shrimp and Snapping Shrimp. These animals snap shut their enlarged claw to generate a loud click which in an aquarium sounds something like a marble being thrown at the glass! They are generally considered peaceful tankmates if you can put up with the noise which is at its worst in the dead of night.

Mantis Shrimp (Stomatopod) The scourge of the marine reef aquarium. These guys often turn up in live rock and if not removed they can wreak havoc on tank inhabitants. They use specially adapted front claws to "strike" at prey with lightening speed. They are reputed to be able to kill fish, snails and even crabs! They can be very difficult to find and catch.

 

[leon]

I am only a little unsure cause I have never seen it to be sure.

I have a pistol, bought it 2 - 3 months ago, never seen it since the day i got it, but i hear it every night, about 20 - 30 mins after the lights go out.

 

[TBLightningFan]

I am only a little unsure cause I have never seen it to be sure.

I have a pistol, bought it 2 - 3 months ago, never seen it since the day i got it, but i hear it every night, about 20 - 30 mins after the lights go out.

That sounds like it... sometimes it its quick to begin after the lights go out in like a min or two. But it is a paced click of 4 or 5 in a row one every 5 seconds or so. Is kinda random.

So how big do these get and to think of it... we never heard him until we put the peppermint shrimp in. Maybe he can see the peppermint and he is clicking because he feels there is a threat with the other shrimp.

 

[Navarre]

They can get equally as large as a cleaner shrimp etc. but this really depends on the subspecies of shrimp. I had one (i say had because i havent heard him in months) living in my live rock and it was only about 1cm across and spends its whole life living within a cave in the rock. It was harmless and used to click when startled or threatened.

 

[chkltcow]

Pistol shrimp are awesome little critters if you can get them to pair up with a watchman goby. Considering he feels there is a threat in there, you may be able to add a small watchman goby and get them to pair off like they would in the wild. It's an amazing sight when they do... and you will see the shrimp out and about in the daytime.

My pistol was with my gobies for about a week or so, then for no real reason, left them. I'll occasionally see him out during the day, and the last time I saw him, I swear he's lost his "pistol"!! You guys think that'll grow back?

 

[TBLightningFan]

Pistol shrimp are awesome little critters if you can get them to pair up with a watchman goby. Considering he feels there is a threat in there, you may be able to add a small watchman goby and get them to pair off like they would in the wild. It's an amazing sight when they do... and you will see the shrimp out and about in the daytime.

My pistol was with my gobies for about a week or so, then for no real reason, left them. I'll occasionally see him out during the day, and the last time I saw him, I swear he's lost his "pistol"!! You guys think that'll grow back?

I'll look into adding the goby. The tank has finished its first cycle finally. It only took about a week and a half. Live rock and sand are great advantages aren't they!!!

It would be neat to see them pair up like you mentioned.

 

[Navarre]

Shrimps and crabs will regrow lost body parts eventually.

 

[Aquascaper]

I had the very same occurence in my tank. I was hearing clicks and just put it down to the snails, etc. hitting the glass. When i tranferred everything over the the bigger tank i found a pistol shrimp (thanks to chkltcow for the help in ID'ing) since then the tank has burst and i don't think he made it

 

[Cody]

get a hi-finned shrimp goby, hopefully they will pair up. that would b awesome!