click, click, click

R eef · Jan 13, 2016

For the past 6 months or so, I can occasionally hear a clicking/slurping sound normally three times in a row.

At first I thought it was equipment related but it appears more likely its a mantis or pistol shrimp!

Any way to tell the difference by sound and any signs I should be on the look out for? without actually eyeballing the clunking varmint.

reef lover · Jan 13, 2016

Idk the behavior on pistols. But my mantis is always wacking on rocks in his little tank. I think pistols are more of a click sound. The mantis sounds like ur banging rocks together under water. Or like a rock hitting glass sound. If it is a mantis ull want to get him out or hell make a meal outta ur crabs and snails. Hope this helps.

moulton1853 · Jan 13, 2016

If you have a pistol shrimp the sand and small pieces of rubble will be moved as they burrow under the rocks and make trenches through the sand bed. I have a tiger pistol and it makes the clicking noise more toward the evening or feeding times.

TheEngineer · Jan 13, 2016

Sounds like a pistol shrimp to me. The sound reminds me of tapping a coin on glass. Do you see any burrows or piles of sand anywhere? They have a pretty distinctive look to them. If it was a mantis, I think you'd notice your CUC dwindling. Have you?

McMullen · Jan 13, 2016

+1 for mantis. May not want to go rearranging rock work searching for the culprit!!

R eef · Jan 14, 2016

Thanks for the info...

So the noise is more of a clicking sound than rocks hitting glass noise and its more evident during feeding.

But I haven't seen any burrows or noticed any sand mounds or rocks moving.

My crew a la cleanup is fine but I only added them recently, couple of dwarf hermits and a sand starfish.

Perhaps its a lil pistol, i'll keep watch

TheEngineer · Jan 14, 2016

Look in the back too. The burrow might not be where you can see.

Lionfish Lair · Jan 14, 2016

I bet you're right that it's a pistol. I had a loud one in a little 24g and I never saw him. He would get a "clicks" when I fed the tank too. Maybe you could record the sound.

human · Jan 14, 2016

If your CUC starts disappearing then it's a Mantis. I had a Pistol shrimp that seemed to click constantly, it was in a 75G on an open bottom cast iron stand. I crawled under my tank with a flashlight and saw he was clicking at bristleworms that were getting too close to it.

AlexG · Jan 14, 2016

I would vote pistol shrimp. A small mantis could also be possible. If there is a mantis and they are well fed from the fish food they will most likely not bother anything. I would watch for their eyes poking out of the rocks as they tend to keep a lookout from their hideout. A pistol shrimp might never be seen as they dont come out of hiding very often.

R eef · Jan 15, 2016

The tank is placed in an alcove in between a fireplace and wall so the sides and back are not fully visible.

Clean up posse still going strong.

Good idea about recording the sounds I'll give that a try and post it up.

I watched some vids on pistols and the sound they produce is more a clean click like snapping your fingers, whereas the sounds I hear is more click/slurp...