Do hermit crabs make loud clicking / popping sounds ?

[Idech]

I’ve had 2 scarlet hermit crabs for about 2 weeks. They are very small, the size of a dime. Many times I’ve heard this loud clicking sound coming from the tank. This morning when I got up I heard it again. It sounds like something is being banged agains the glass.

I’ve never had crabs before so I don’t know what it means. I’ve researched the internet and all I find is infos about crabs chirping. But this is not chirping. So is this noise coming from the crabs and why are they doing it ?

Thanks !

 

[Chrisv.]

Sounds like a pistol shrimp. Is it new live rock?

 

[Idech]

Sounds like a pistol shrimp. Is it new live rock?

No, it’s old dry rock.

 

[Chrisv.]

No, it’s old dry rock.

Any way that a pistol could have snuck in?

 

[Chrisv.]

Maybe on a rock attached to a new coral?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I had a large hermit crab (about the size of a marshmallow), and you could hear his shell knocking against the tank glass. But that doesn’t seem to be what you are describing.

 

[Idech]

Any way that a pistol could have snuck in?

I have no experience with saltwatwr shrimps, but this tank has only been running for 3-4 weeks. It has 4 fish, 3 nassarius snails, 3 trochus snails and 2 hermit crabs.

Could a shrimp hide in a snail’s shell ?

Maybe on a rock attached to a new coral?

There are only 2 corals in the tank. 2 small GSP frags that came from the same supplier as the clean up crew.

Again, could a very tiny shrimp hide under such a small frag ? Both were dipped also for 15 minutes before going in the DT.

I had a large hermit crab (about the size of a marshmallow), and you could hear his shell knocking against the tank glass. But that doesn’t seem to be what you are describing.

Hum, no, the sounds I hear are repetitive bursts or one shot and last for a few seconds. Thanks for trying though !

 

[vabben]

The way you describe it, it defiantly sounds like a pistol shrimp. Sounds like snapping fingers loudly? I can hear mine on the other side of the house.

 

[Utubereefer]

Snail banging on glass with its shell? Mine do it

 

[Idech]

The way you describe it, it defiantly sounds like a pistol shrimp. Sounds like snapping fingers loudly? I can hear mine on the other side of the house.

Sort of, but faster than most people could. And the sound is very clear, not muffled.

It almost sounded like an electrical problem this morning. I checked but didn’t see anything wrong. The other times it didn’t last as long. It was mostly 1 or 2 short bursts.

 

[Idech]

Snail banging on glass with its shell? Mine do it

Yeah, that could be it. But how would they repeat the sound so fast ? It’s not just one time, it’s multiple times, and fast.

Is your snail big ? These little guys are very small.

 

[Utubereefer]

They do quick spins with their shell to shake stuff off i think. But they will repeat the same movement.

 

[Utubereefer]

All sizes do it.I’ve seen mostly Trochus snails doing this

 

[Idech]

They do quick spins with their shell to shake stuff off i think. But they will repeat the same movement.

Next time I’ll look for them in the tank, to see if they are close to the glass.

 

[Crabby48]

Sounds like a pistol shrimp. Some are great and some not so evil. Of a little one snuck in hope it’s a friendly one

 

[aurora.k]

I can’t imagine this is not a pistol shrimp… I‘m not a super long-timer, but in 4 years with many many snails the only thing I’ve heard like what you’re describing is my pistol shrimp. why don’t you google it - I’m sure there are a ton of YouTube videos so you can hear it and see if it is the same sound.

 

[Idech]

All sizes do it.I’ve seen mostly Trochus snails doing this

Oh, I thought you were talking about the crabs, still.

My trochus are big, I find. I have a smaller one in another tank and it’s never made this sound. Let’s hope I can see who the guilty one is next time, lol !

 

[Idech]

I can’t imagine this is not a pistol shrimp… I‘m not a super long-timer, but in 4 years with many many snails the only thing I’ve heard like what you’re describing is my pistol shrimp. why don’t you google it - I’m sure there are a ton of YouTube videos so you can hear it and see if it is the same sound.

I did and saw one video. It sounded like it but it wasn’t repetitive so I need to watch more.

 

[Utubereefer]

Probably not a pistol shrimp

 

[Utubereefer]

My snails do it daily. Freaked my wife out the first time she heard it.