Short clicking/tapping noise

[KenFitz]

Hi All, 1st post so.... go easy,

Searched the forum and found a few 'answers' to the above but I'm still a bit confused.

I have heard a series of short clicking noises coming from my 90ltr nano reef. I thought it was the hermit crabs just hitting the glass, but now I'm not so sure.

A few of the snail clean up crew (small <1.5cm) have gone MIA. And I think a hermit may be KIA - saw a few red legs scattered on the sand. (Not the usual molt pattern of several legs stuck together with whatever they chuck off - I assume)..

I think the beast is under an overhanging rock, dark, close to sand, it's where my peppermint hangs out.

Tank has been setup for 6 weeks, fully cycled but ony has two small clowns, the peppermint and a sacrophyton in it.

Could the clicking noise be a pistol or the dreaded mantis?
I have not seen this beast so... can't comment on what it looks like.

Oh.... clicking is heard with the lights on... its is not very loud, is sounds like a shell tapping the glass lightly.. but seems to come from the 'rock' area.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds very much like a mantis or pistol shrimp. That would explain your missing snails.

I have fortunately never had to catch a mantis or pistol, but many others have. If you can find the exact rock it's hiding in, you can remove it from the aquarium and deal accordingly. A quick dip in hypersaline (sg of about 1.030) water should flush it out. You can also set a fish trap for it with a small piece of shrimp as bait. Lots of online stores sell premade acrylic fish traps.

Hope this helps, and
:welcome:

 

[KenFitz]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome.

The missing hermit has turned up - must have been in hiding whilst it hardened up.

If I continue to loose snails and see a collection of shells where I think it might be I'll dip it.

Thanks.

 

[FragMaster]

Check your snails shells for holes in them. If there is just a small hole I would say its a pistol. If the shell is pretty well mangled I would say its a small mantis. A mantis shrimp usualy makes a VERY noticable "POP!" when it strikes somthing like a crab or snail shell.
Mantis shrimp are not capable of making soft clicking noises with just thier "hammers" but they can and do when they are hamering somthing hard like a piece of live rock borrowing themselves a den . Pistol shrimp on the other hand are capable of making such clicks,with just thier claw with out striking anything. Also I read that a pistol shrimp will make clicks in one's and two's where as a mantis will be rapid clicking.
Got all of this info from here:
http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pest/tell.htm

 

[KenFitz]

Fragmaster - Thanks for the reponse.

I probably get at the most 5 clicks often 3ish - I will retieve what small snails I can and examine the shells - none (from the outside of the tank) look as though they have been smashed to bits - so looks like it may be a pistol (or the hermit crab window tappers band).

... Need to get some long SS tweezers...