clicking

[libmo]

I moved the contents of a 12 gallon tank into a larger tank last night. Hoping to find the source of the clicking that still comes from this tank even after all but one rock had been removed. This is from a shipment of one of Tampa Bay Saltwater's packages back in early March. I have already taken 3 mantis shrimp out of this tank, and was expecting another when I noticed a small shrimp less than a half inch long and less than one eighth inch wide. It definitely had one claw larger than the other. So I am pretty sure it is a pistol shrimp. But my questions are could this little thing have made the loud clicking I heard? And if it has been in the tank for over 3 months how small was it to start with? Also I assume it is finding what it needs to survive, but is there any thing I need to do to keep it alive, since it is so small?

Thanks

 

[hdtran]

Yes, the pistol shrimps click inordinately loudly for their size. I still have at least 1 sizable mantis in my display tank (on the order of 2" or more length). When I tease it with my long stick, it tries to click at the stick. Very strong, but not very loud.

I disturbed a less than 1/2" pistol shrimp which was residing in my preskimmer box. Boy, was it loud!

Pistol shrimps find their own foods, by stunning them with a loud click. I believe they eat pods & zooplankton, neither of which you can buy, but which reproduce readily in a healthy tank.