clicking coming from tank

[DJM32189]

Every now and then (about 3-4) times a day I hear a very loud deep click come from my tank. It kind of sounds like the heater bouncing off of the back wall. Could this be an animal or is it equipment?

 

[rich99rich]

It could be a pistol shrimp or mantis shrimp. I had a pistol shrimp that would make loud clicking noises. At first I thought it was my tank cracking, which gave me a big scare! Luckily, it was just the pistol shrimp doing his thing.

 

[turbonegro]

I hear the same thing in my tank once in awhile. I dont have a pistol shrimp and I haven't seen a mantis. It is a mystery to me and my wife.

 

[DJM32189]

For some info:

clicks have been coming forever, that I can recall, so assume that the clicks have been coming since inhabitants have been residing in tank

inhabitants:

fully grown cleaner (9months)
brittle star (9 months)
snails/hermits
all types of corals (LPS, softies, zoos, mushrooms xenia etc..)
damsel
pajama cardinal
pygmy angel
lots of live rock

no missing creatures so far I did have one wrasse dissapear, but it was pretty sickly and deformed!!!!!

Thanks for all the help

 

[rich99rich]

The pistol/mantis could have hitchiked in on live rock or coral. Try to find out of its coming from within the tank. If it is, then it's probably a pistol or mantis.

 

[DJM32189]

it is definitley coming from inside the tank because I am pretty sure that it is vibrating inside off of the walls, making it sound like my heater is banging on the glass. are they nocturnal? Could I use a flashlight to see it or would I scare it off

 

[fullkontact]

It very well could be the heater, or glass thermometer. Every once in a while my fish do high speed drive by's on the equipment and it makes that sound.

 

[DJM32189]

Yes, I think that I agree with that statement of the high speed fish because I would think that I would see this presumably large creature running around the tank banging on the glass and smashing others to their death!!!!

 

[DJM32189]

After watching the tank for about 10 minutes I heard another softer click coming from dead center of the tank. The light was turned off and all the fish were asleep so now high speed action. I really wish I could find out what kind of shrimp this is

 

[Greg manton]

my lights will click as they expand or mabey the housings it worried me for a long time till i figured it out. ive herd a flashlight with a red lens,shrimp cant see red light if thats what it is

 

[aflac-jack]

I too had a mysterious clicking noise. After much investigation, it was my Coral Banded Shrimp! The same shrimp who has murdered several fish including a watchman boby, Mandarin, (2) 6 line wrass, and a Royal Gramma. Good Luck finding your noise!

 

[DJM32189]

thanks, I did try with a red flashlight but did not see anything

 

[Anemone]

Snails will also make this noise - I've had astreas, trochus, and turbos do a half "spin move" and click their shells against the glass. Sounds very much like my pistol shrimp, just not quite as loud.

Kevin

 

[jeffbrig]

I have a couple of pistols and at least 1 mantis in my tank, so I hear all manner of snap/crack/pop sounds. IMO, these sounds are a LOT louder than the "clink" of a heater against the side of a tank. I've heard sounds that invoke images in my mind of bones breaking.

 

[RichConley]

I had a lot of problems with those little glass floating thermometers banging against things...got pretty loud.

 

[DJM32189]

oh, the sounds certainly are not that loud, maybe it is simply the thermometer or the heater. I hope so, although I was kind of hoping for a pistol shrimp, so I could get a goby!!!!!

 

[aquajamieb]

you can still get a goby. they dont need to live with a pistol shrimp. They can just live together symbiotically (sp.). Usually, the shrimp hides out while the goby keeps watch.