mantis shrimp hitchhiker?

[mossmoss]

i have a 2 month old 20g tank. just added more liverock and a firefish yesterday (already had cleaner shrimp, 3 hermit crabs and 3 snails).

Today i heard 3 or 4 loud snaps that seemed to come from the tank... i couldnt see anything but i am wondering... what are the chances i got a mantis shrimp hitchhiker??? is it possible it is super small? how bad could this be for my tank?

 

[Pablopufferfish]

Might be a mantis shrimp or pistol shrimp. Can you see any burrows or dark holes?

 

[Copingwithpods]

It's not impossible, could also be a pistol shrimp. The pistol depending on stocking and species would probably be ok to stay. The mantis on the other hand will decimate your cuc.

 

[mossmoss]

Might be a mantis shrimp or pistol shrimp. Can you see any burrows or dark holes?

i mean there are tons of dark holes in the rock.. should i look with a flashlight at night? anything in particular i should look for?

 

[Pablopufferfish]

i mean there are tons of dark holes in the rock.. should i look with a flashlight at night? anything in particular i should look for?

That is a something you could try. Look in the dark holes for any pistol shrimp(has one large claw and isn’t that vibrant in color) or mantis shrimp(has 2 bulbous eyes, more vibrant in color, and has two mantis like claws).

 

[AcroNem]

The snaps seem more like a pistol shrimp than a mantis shrimp, but it could be. Is this fresh live rock or from another system?

 

[mossmoss]

The snaps seem more like a pistol shrimp than a mantis shrimp, but it could be. Is this fresh live rock or from another system?

fresh live rock from my LFS

 

[Indytraveler83]

i mean there are tons of dark holes in the rock.. should i look with a flashlight at night? anything in particular i should look for?

If possible use a red filter on the flashlight. They don't seem to recognize red very well and it may help you spot a fast species that'll dart into hiding as soon as it sees a light source.

 

[badluckman]

Can also be the shrimp and snails clanking against the glass perhaps? It can get quite loud sometimes when they do it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

happened to me twice.
Likely ?/ YES !!

 

[Katrina71]

Nice rock! Lucky if you got a pistol. Just get a watchman goby. Awesome pair.

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

I know it has happened to a few friends of mine. If you have fish start to disappear, could be a mantis.