Morse code and missing livestock - mantis?

Antegon

Antegon

New member
55g, running for years now. Got the rock when I knew much less, so I've had my share of hitchhikers. The last few months or so, I have been losing almost all of my snails. Trochus, bumblebee, astraea, most all end up as empty shells in the substrate. The few survivors are those bumblebees who stay at the waterline.
Then I noticed the clicking. Near "œdusk" in the tank. But it's erratic, and sometimes streamed together, like Morse code. Didn't know if that was synonymous with Mantis behavior/sounds.
Then, tragedy. My neon dottyback, ever the outgoing personality, disappeared. I know they hide but it's been over 2 weeks now.
Water lvls are good.
Ph 8.2
Dkh 11
Cal 420
Mg 1330
Ni/Na/Po 0
Sal 1.0255
Temp 78

Any ideas? Is this a mantis, another creature of questionable repute, or just a crazy series of events that are unrelated?

Thanks!


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I thought pistols were much more "œtank safe" and non-aggressive?


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I don't think Mantis can hit things fast enough to sound like Morse code.

At most, when my peacock is beating something to death, he hits it every couple seconds or so. Sometimes there will be two hits in fairly rapid succession. I think it takes a bit for them to reset their smashers. They also take some time to reposition things they are trying to break open.

Put some clam halves in a fish trap and see what happens.


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Thanks! I'll stay vigilant and report back if I find some crazy monster new to science.


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