Mantis strike and reload time

[Flightpipe]

I can hear a clicking in my tank and i cannot figure out what it is I have a pistol shrimp and i was watching him when i heard it and I know it was not his clicking so that being said.

I have heard a clicking in my tank and i cannot figure out what it is I am concerned its a mantis though i have not seen it. It is audible from 15ft away from my DT and it usually happens in a fairly rapid succession like 3 clicks close together maybe in roughly one second maybe one and a half. Can a mantis strike in rapid succession like that? every vid i have seen of one striking is a one at a time with a pause in between.

 

[justinl]

they certainly can hit with that frequency if they feel like it. i dont think it is possible to distinguish pistol from mantis strikes based on frequency. some people are able to distinguish the two just on how they sound though. i can't.

edit: fwiw, hitching mantids are rarely of any concern since most are small species and wont cause much more damage than the odd missing hermit and snail... which are a dime a dozen most places anyways. i wouldnt worry about it unless you actually notice any real damage.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Stomatopods can usually strike 4 - times is quick succession, but then they have to recover for at least 30 seconds or so. Strikes in quick succession usually happen when they are attacking a crab. They do not do this when striking a snail or when remodeling. ALso, strikes by most species of smasher occur during the day, not in the middle of the night.

Roy

 

[Flightpipe]

I heard something clicking its heart out all time day and night and i have seen no new burrows and i only have 80 lbs of lr so I can see in and around fairly well but i cant find anything!

I have not seen damage yet to anything but my curiosity is killing me!

If it is a mantis is there any way i can draw it out or trap it? I know i don't want to go grabbing around in there. this click are pretty loud. I have a small pistol that i have heard clicking before (1") and the mystery clicking is 3X as loud so it must be bigger!

 

[KhawMengLee]

Well, you could make a bottle trap with some shrimp as bait. eg. get a drink bottle, cut the top 1/4 off and then inverse it into the rest of the bottle so it forms a funnel. Place it at an angle so the mantis can slip in easily but finds it hard to 'climb' out.

A loud click could still be a pistol shrimp. I find the tiny (1 1/2 inches) pistols in my peacock tank make a louder noice than my mantis.

 

[Flightpipe]

I guess i will have to try that. It could be a pistol but its up in the rocks i though that pistols like to be lower near sand ect. making burrows. the trap would catch a pistol too so i guess ill just have to give it a shot.

I am concerned that my shrimps or crabs may go in there too but i guess that is just part of it

 

[Gonodactylus]

There are many species of snapping shrimp that are only found living in cavities in coral, coralline algae and/or rubble.

Roy