newbie mantis question?

[hoyt]

Ive lost 2 diamond gobies in 2 months and have lost several snails, most of the snail shells are in a pile in the back of my tank, I never hear any clicking noise, so do all mantis click? or should I be looking for a different culpret?

 

[Limbo]

I'm guessing your tank is quite a new setup.

Mantis Shrimps click when they hit thier "clubs" off objects, rock, shells etc. I you had one, you may not hear anything as it is striking when your not around.
However, the cause maybe something else. Are the shells of the snails damaged or is the flesh just missing?

If you do seriously suspect a Mantis there are plenty of threads here about making traps. Also if you do catch one and you don't want to keep it yourself then please offer it up to the guys here. Most are nuts about them and will happily extend thier collection to give him/her a good home

 

[hoyt]

The tank is a little over a year old, I added a cleanup crew 3 months ago, and every snail in my tank is gone, 40 to be exact, most of the shells are piled up in a corner by my overflow, but none are damaged, just the flesh is missing, I've also lost 2 diamond gobies in the same time period. So I'm suspecting a mantis shrimp, I've looked late at night but never have seen one nor have I ever heard any clicking coming from my tank.

 

[Iphis]

If you spend any time around your tank, its very unlikely you would not hear the signature clicking.

Many critters, including the mantis, will create a shell graveyard around their home. Large crabs will also do this.

The best thing I can suggest doing would be to set a piece of meaty food, like silverside, on top of the broken shells and just watch.

If you're still and quiet, you may see the culprit show himself and then react accordingly.

 

[Princess Di]

What about your crabs. My mantis doesn't eat my snails, just the crabs. My crabs, however, eat my snails.

 

[mantis-shrimp12]

My mantis shrimp only eats small nassarius snails.