I finally found a molt!!! Please help!!!!

[TOURKID]

So I had started the thread 'stop the ticking or reassure me its ok'

Ive had this popping or ticking noise in my tank for 13 months and have NEVER seen the culprate. Well today I saw a molt fall behind my nem and it wasent a hermit!!!!

I sucked it up with a turkey baster... I was feeding at the time, so mysis n stuff was all mixed in with the molt. Well, I lost the body but I managed to get the 2 claw molts and get a pic. This has got to be from a pistol and not a mantis..... righT???? I saw the tail of the molt for a breif second, looked like a regular shrimp tail....,

What do you thinK????? Ive been wondering about the popping for 13 months Im so stoked to at least get the claw molts!!!

 

[mattyice]

those are the claws of a pistol shrimp

 

[TOURKID]

pistol shrimp are ok? they look like mean claws!! the popping i hear is just air going thru the claw? or is it eatting baby cloista snails? (those tiny hitchhikers that multiply in the hundreds)

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah the popping sound you hear is from the claw closing fast enough to cause cavitation in the water around it thus creating air. Pistol shrimp really only use their clicks for defense and are opportunistic scavengers just like any cleaner shrimp

 

[TOURKID]

wow. a hitchhiker ive had for a year, been bugging me for an ENTIRE year... and i finally know. that feels great! I know what area its in from the sound.. its REALLY loud.. but still never ever saw it. I can get a certain fish and they'll hang out right? what fish?

 

[mattyice]

any shrimp approved goby, they will form a pair that work with each other to find food and protect each other

 

[Thurge]

Actually it depends on both the Pistol and Gobie. Some Pistol Shrimp don't form commencial bonds, and some Shrimp Gobies may only form bonds with certain shrimp. I had three different species of Pistol and my Blue Spot Watchman usually was off doing his own thing.