Pistol or Mantis?

[Tylt33]

A few nights ago I started hearing a LOUD clicking (sounded like a nickel being thrown against a window) coming from my 35 gallon tank. Probably about a click a minute over a ten minute period. When I walked over to my tank (dark) I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. When I turned the light on, there was no more clicking. The liverock that I bought had a ton of life on it, so I'm sure that it's something living rather than a mechanical noise. So here's why I'm stuck.

1. Whatever it is, Pistol or Mantis, I've never seen it during the day, and I spend quite a bit of time looking at my tank. Are they both nocturnal? Would I see either if they were diurnal or would they just hide?

2. I have a Yasha Hase goby in there, but I have never seen a shrimp in it's burrow. If it was a pistol, I figure they would have paired. Then again if it was a mantis, I figure there would be no more goby.

3. It's clicking singularly, which I've heard is a Pistol characteristic, rather than a group of clicks from a Mantis.

4. I don't *believe* I've lost any of my CUC. Then again it's hard to keep track, but all 10 Nassarius snails are still alive, as is my serpent star, and there is no evidence of any shells from the hermits or snails being destroyed.

5. When I feed my goby, the snails and things come running; would a mantis shrimp come running?

Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm hesitant to buy anything else for my tank before I figure out what I'm dealing with!

 

[DanInSD]

Lots of things here.

- Mantis, especially smaller ones, are indistinguishable from pistols by sound alone. I have both (different tanks, of course) and they sound the same, both in frequency and in loudness.

- Gobies do not universally pair with pistols. It seems to be a common myth that they do. I tried putting an S. yasha with an Alpheis randalii, and they avoided each other. Eventually the goby died, and I replaced him with a yellow watchman, which immediately paired up with the same shrimp. It's a crap shoot.

- Mantis can be very reclusive -- some go for years without being seen. Many (e.g. Haptosquilla species) remain quite small and generally harmless. Same goes for pistols.

- If you had a big, destructive species of crustacean in there (mantis or pistol), you would have seen damage.

My advice -- enjoy the ride. Doesn't look like you have anything worth worrying about.

Dan

 

[Pea-brain]

It probably isn't a mantis. Mantises are for the most part diurnal. There are a few nocturnal and crepuscular mantises, but they don't usually hitch hike. Also, gobies don't always pair up with pistols. They might, they might not. hard to tell. Unless you start to see shells with holes in them, the mantis itself, or some other good evidence for all you know it could be a heater, your lights, or a snail moving across the glass in front of a PH. So sit back, relax, and don't worry about it, but stay alert.
]
Dan

 

[Tylt33]

I still haven't figured out what it is, but it's getting more frequent. Definitely not something mechanical, as it stops when I approach the tank. Still only occuring when the lights are off. I'm guessing it must be an elusive pistol. No visual casualties yet.

 

[Ladipyg]

I had the exact same thing happening...I took a flash light with a red bulb, turned off all the lights in the room and waited until I heard the clicks...found the little bugger that way...was a nice pistol shrimp...guess lots of things don't see the red spectrum, so it doesn't spook them. Try it...you'd be surprised what you see after lights out....

 

[yiliyang]

From the sound you have described, yours is a pistol. The mantis click sounds like more of a click than a pop. The click sound is not loud at all. If it really sound like a nickel thrown at a window, I would say it is definitely a pistol.

If you know someone who has a pistol shrimp, go to his house and ask him to poke at his pistol with a stick and see what it sounds like. It is harder to describe with words, but if you hear it once, you will be able to tell the difference.


BTW:There is no guarantee that a pistol and a goby will pair up.

 

[Tylt33]

Whatever it is its now waking me up on an almost nightly basis! Im going crazy.