Click click

[Roxy]

I know this is a probally silly question but i was up early this morning and was looking at my fish tank with it blues light on and i heard a clicking noise i try to see what i had on that side to make a clicking noise I have, bumble bee, hermits, one yellow tang, one damsel, one blenny, one emeral crab, other corals. I never heard this sound before i just brought some of the bumble bee and hermits, could it be them???

[Samper]

Do you have a mantis in hiding? Is it a faster clicking....like mechanical or do you feel it's some livestock making it? I have heard my turbo snails click. When one gets on the shell of another the one on the ground will start twisting to get it off. If they are near glass the shells will hit it causing a sound.

[Roxy]

thanks Sampler, i forgot that i do have turbo snails but the two bumble bee are stuck together, maybe it is them? But i do not know what a mantis looks like, is that bad to have one?

[lps]

They look like the pic below. If you notice fish missing all of a sudden, it will be a sure sign. I'd keep your hands out of the tankuntill you know for sure.

[Samper]

If your rock came from the Gulf you have an increased chance of having one. There are different species around some are worse than others. The clicking is them crushing the shell of a snail to eat it. If you notice your cleanup crews especially snails vanishing that is a pretty good indicator IMO. I see mine during the day and night but it's used to me now. They are extremely intelligent creatures...I haven't been able to catch mine. Try getting a flashlight with a red lens and checking around all the rockwork at night.

[Roxy]

Thanks again sam,and lps i have not seen anything that looks like that. i have been keeping an eye on things in the tank. does a mantis come out mostly at night? i have looked at my tank at night do not see anything close to that. but i did see hermit out of its shell dead. although there was anohter hermit bothering him. not sure what to think