Mantis Shrimp vs Pistol Shrimp

[Andrewsreef]

Is there a way to tell from the sound if you have a mantis or a pistol shrimp? Any truth to the number of "pops" determining which one?

I am hearing between 1 and 3 pops. Sometimes kind of loud and sometimes soft. I got a glimps of what I thought was a grey crab but I only say two front feet/legs and only for a moment. What I saw seems to have found a hole in my zoo rock and removed a few zoos in the way to get to the whole. It seems to be small at 1/2 to 1 inch in legenth but again, I only got a quick glimpse.

I have 2 crab shells at different ends of the tank but I can't say for sure they were not already there. These shells have 2 small holes in the center (shells from small blue leg crabs).

Thanks

Andrew

 

[Ladipyg]

Any piles of shells from crabs or snail lying around where you're hearing the sound...if so mantis...if not probably a pistol

 

[Andrewsreef]

When you say piles of shells, do you mean hole empty shells or would they be crunched up? I do seem to have 2 empty crab shells but they are on opposit sides of the tank. They are complete shells but empty. I really am having a hard time locating the poping sound. It seems to move around a bit.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[Andrewsreef]

Bunp on this, just piles of whole shells or would they be broken up? I now have 2 empty shells.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[dantodd]

They should have holes in the shell where the mantis "opened" up his meal. A mantis will not grind up the shell (at least not that I've ever seen.)

 

[Ladipyg]

Sounds more like a pistol than a mantis...a mantis would leave a hole in the shell, like a bullet hit it...kinda did, mantis are tough. They hang in one spot and the shells kinda end up in a pile outside of their house.

 

[Uriel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7151773#post7151773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
They should have holes in the shell where the mantis "opened" up his meal. A mantis will not grind up the shell (at least not that I've ever seen.)

Actually, my G. ternatensis will hold a snail and bash of the shell in little pieces, as she eats.

Stil, whole snail shells doesn't sound like the typical mantis leavings...

-Ron

 

[GruntSculpin]

My full-grown pistol shrimp is certainly capable of clicking for 10-15 times on end if he has a goal. The mantis will go for a lot longer than that if he has a meal or a construction project, but in my experience the "pistols click once" thing is utterly bogus.

Chris