[Michael]

Lately Ive noticed that occaisionally there is a loud clear clicking sound coming from my tank. I havent introduced a pistol shrimp so cant figure out what is making the sound. Any ideas?

[GaryZ]

Could be a mantis shrimp. I've heard that they can actually break glass.

[Michael]

Its possible that I had one hitch hike in on a piece of liverock but I havent seen him.

[Michael]

I was brousing the web and found a reference to it being possible for hermit crabs to make these loud clicking sounds when fighting over shells. I do have quite a few hermits in my tank, blue and scarlet legs. Thoughts?

[Reefland]

I would kind of doubt it was a hermit and would look towards the pistol/mantis shrimp.

[Michael]

Hopefully it is a pistol shrimp then but if so I expect I would have seen him by now. Is there any benefit to having a mantis shrimp in a reef?

[GaryZ]

From what I've read, they are highly predatory and are capable of taking out fish once they mature enough. I've heard of people actually keeping dedicated mantis shrimp tanks. Acrylic tanks, so they can't shatter. This is only stuff that I have read. I have no first hand experience.

[CSeaSee]

They certainly can hitchhike in on LR. IF it is a mantis shrimp, the clicking sound could be from things like excavation or predation. Here's a link to a recent thread, which may or may not be helpful.
Mantis Shrimp Tank
Sounds like you may need to go on a stakeout!

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by Michael

Lately Ive noticed that occaisionally there is a loud clear clicking sound coming from my tank. I havent introduced a pistol shrimp so cant figure out what is making the sound. Any ideas?

I have to agree that it could be a mantis--although no personal experience.

I have heard that if you do a high salinity dip/short soak on your LR before putting it in your tank then you will have a better chance of not adding any undersireable critters to your tank. Higher saline will drive them out of the rock. I would not go too high maybe 1.026-1.030. Enough to stress, but not enough to kill. Freeze undesireable critters then toss. For desireable ones start immediate acclimation by putting back into original water and adapting from there.

I have not had to do this yet, although, I can foresee a time when I will need to.

Just a thought--might be better ones out there though.

Anne

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Michael

Lately Ive noticed that occaisionally there is a loud clear clicking sound coming from my tank. I havent introduced a pistol shrimp so cant figure out what is making the sound. Any ideas?

A mantis shrimp would be an unpleasant possibility. It's definitely not hermit crabs.

Try checking out your tank at night in the dark with just a red flashlight (or a regular flashlight with red celophane over the lens) to see if you can spot anything.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Michael

Is there any benefit to having a mantis shrimp in a reef?

None whatsoever. A mantis shrimp is bad news and it should be eliminated (removed) as soon as possible.

[Michael]

This is depressing. I havent been able to even spot this thing let alone catch it and remove it. My tank is so full of hiding places removing it will be quite a task.

I only have three fish in the tank, two clowns and a six line wrasse. So far they are OK but this may explain why I seem to loose hermit crabs from time to time

Is there some form of trap that I can use

[CSeaSee]

Yes, there are a lot of ways to trap these critters. I'd advise you to read the links on this board, and check out the "Mantis Shrimp" forum at RC. Read up on these guys first, because they can cause your fingers some serious damage!
P.S.- I agree with Ninong the need for a nighttime stakeout... do you have a moonlight/ red flashlight?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Michael

Is there some form of trap that I can use

Yes. Check around online to see what's available. Here is something I found on Drs. Foster & Smith: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pc=1&N=0&Nty=1 I have no idea how good it is because I have never had to trap anything in my tank.

Good luck!

[Toni217]

Is it the shrimp? do you have other fish in the tank. I know damsel fish click too

[inwall75]

Those traps will work if you have an idea where the mantis is and put the opening near it's den. The problem is that if it doesn't catch it the first time, the mantis will be very reluctant to go near it again.

The red cellophane over the flashlight may or may not be effective as many species are able to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and polarized lighting. In fact, mantis have the best vision of any animal in the world. They even communicate with each other by a flourescing that we can't even see unless we use special filming techniques. The only other animal known to communicate via light is the cuttlefish. (By communicate, I mean actually communicate and not just attract a mate, etc.)

You can drop a cocktail shrimp in the tank near where you thing the mantis is, tie a piece of fishing line around it, put a little cat bell on the fishing line. You'll need to be sitting in complete darkness. When the bell rings, hopefully the mantis has grabbed the shrimp instead of a different animal. You can then trace the fishing line to find which rock the mantis has it's den in.

By any chance, have you found any broken snail shells or hermit crab shells?

BTW....most hitchhiking mantis are unable to break glass or your bones. They hurt like the dickens though. They can take out fish but rarely do. In fact, I've often kept fish in my mantis tank. Spearers are the ones that eat fish.