Clicking sound

[Popeye]

I walked by my tank this morning at about 6 am and heard a clicking sound coming from inside the tank. I have lost a cleaner shrimp and a blood shrimp lately. Any Ideas?

[Michael_Lambert]

Mantis Shrimp,
One of the many Hitch hikers that cause serious issues!

Do you have any other inverts in the tank? Snails or crabs?

[Popeye]

yep lots of snails and crabs. Thought maybe it was a mantis shrimp what kind of damage do they do?

[create_a_reef]

Either bashing Damage or stabbing damage :curse:
They are excellent hunters that burrow in your live rock. YOu will eventually run out of crabs/snails unless you get rid of him. Two methods of attack,

One: Figure out which rock its in and remove it from the tank. If you leave it dry the mantis will eventually leave it to look for water (could take a while)

Two: buy a trap. May work for you.

I think they are great little creatures but they can be a pain in the butt!

Brent

[nevareth]

They eat snails and crabs.... and shrimp and fish and...

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

[Popeye]

I may know where he is. I put a large feather duster in a hole in a live rock the next morning the feather duster had been removed from the hole.
What else could do this?

[piatchie]

I heard that a mantis shrimp could actually break through the glass in your tank. I know a guy who ended up with a minor crack due to a mantis. Never caused the tank to leak but as a safty issue he's got to change everythiing over to a new tank. Big payne in the butt if you have a well established tank. I'd get him out as soon as possible!!!! I guess if you like the look of him you could set up a small tank just for him. I think that you would have to keep him well fed so he don't decide that he wants out. Best of luck:-)

[supahtim]

it might also be a pistol shrimp.

if you find the rock he's in, run freshwater over it for a couple of seconds, and it'll flush him out right away.

Tim

[piatchie]

I thought that pistol shrimp were o.k. to have. There supose to be blind and they recomend anyone who has a Rose Goby/Banded Goby to get a pistol shrimp too.

[Cellenzweig]

Other than occasionally kicking up a sandstorm, Pistols are pretty reef safe. But, you have to be sure that's what you have. If it's a mantis, you have to get it out or it will start killing your livestock. Even if it's too small to cause any casualties now, it'll grow.

[piatchie]

Hey Popeye, how ya making out?

[xexxxe]

i wrote several threads about the clicking sound in my system... It still exiests and I still haven't have a clue as to where it is coming from...

- i lost about 4-5 conches... no breaks in shells just missing what's inside...

- i did have a pistol shrimps long time ago about 5mths ago... which i thought it died... now that i think of it it simply molted... can't confirm it now... well, no sign of him either anyways... few snails here and there died w/o a reason that i know of...

- shrimps? it could be the shrimps who are responsible for deaths...

- nevertheless, i am still hearing the clicking sound...

[Popeye]

haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet. Might have to wait until the weekend. and then pull the rock out that I think it is in. But it is on the bottom of my live rock pile

[Popeye]

Click
Click
Click
Click
Click
Click
Click

[afss]

hey.. that sounds familiar :awe: I seem to remember someone telling me their tank didn't click :P.
Just kidding bud.... kinda figured thats what you might have had. if i was you i would try making a trap first before removing the rocks. take a pop bottle and cut the top of. invert the top and insert it into the bottom (kinda like a weir) put some food in and sink it to a place near where you figure the culprit is.

Scott

[Popeye]

thanks Scott never heard it since then either.
but you will have to show me how to make one when you pick up the urchin.

[afss]

yeah.. i know i have been slacking.. just down the road and i haven't made it yet.. I did do a bit more stacking in the 300 and in the 90 so the 90 will be ready for the urchin soon. Maybe this week-end...