reef lobster?

[Keywest99]

I have a hitchhiker reef lobster? He must have come in on live rock. He is red, looks exactly like a maine lobster and he is about 1 3/4" long. I can hear him making a clicking noise a few times a day. I have lost a bi-color blenny and a scooter blenny and my mandarin has an area on him that I believe is from tangling with the lobster. I'm trying to catch him with a trap. If that doesn't work I'll have to remove live rock to catch him I guess. Any ideas??

 

[TerraFerma]

The clicking noise indicates a pistol shrimp. They don't usually harm fish (many exist commensally with gobies). But perhaps you got one that isn't suitable for community aquarium life as it snuck in on live rock.

I've never had great luck with that pest trap they sell. Maybe try the inverted plastic soda bottle.

 

[Keywest99]

That's the trap I'm using. He is definitely not a pistol shrimp, he started to enter the trap then backed out back to his "cave" under the live rock. I've seen his whole body and he is identtical to a maine lobster in looks, just smaller 1 3/4 to 2"

 

[madmarks]

Can you post a picture?

 

[olonmv]

That's the trap I'm using. He is definitely not a pistol shrimp, he started to enter the trap then backed out back to his "cave" under the live rock. I've seen his whole body and he is identtical to a maine lobster in looks, just smaller 1 3/4 to 2"

Pistol shrimp look like tiny lobsters.

Pistol Shrimp – Detailed Guide: Care, Diet, and Breeding - Shrimp and Snail Breeder

Most varieties of Pistol shrimp are reef-safe, compatible with corals and non-aggressive fish, and fairly easy to care for.

aquariumbreeder.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pics under white lighting very helpful as there are pistol shrimp, boxer, mantis shrimp, etc