pistol shrimp?

[Cheeselady]

I've been hearing occasional "cracks" from my DT lately.

Sort of sounds like something hitting glass. It's definitely louder than when my snails smack the glass.

BUT I've never seen a pistol shrimp in my tank but I see my peppermints all the time.

Could it be a pistol shrimp?

I'm paranoid that what I am hearing is a mystery crack in the bottom of my tank slowly snapping fortelling the doom of my tank and rental deposit.......

 

[AlSimmons]

It's definitely possible. If you haven't already you might want to start checking the tank at night with a flashlight or even set a trap of sorts.

 

[Cheeselady]

What sort of damage will a pistol shrimp do to my tank?

 

[TokiHacker]

What sort of damage will a pistol shrimp do to my tank?

usually nothing.... if new rock has been added its a little more likely to have a mantis shrimp.

 

[Sk8r]

won't damage your tank but could kill fish that want to enter his turf

 

[Cheeselady]

usually nothing.... if new rock has been added its a little more likely to have a mantis shrimp.

Well I got new rock when I upgraded. I know I got at least one red mithrax hitchhiker.

I thought mantis shrimp were fairly large? Wouldn't it be hard to miss?

Other than a wayward shrimp what are other possible sources of the sound?


It isn't primarily at night as far as I can tell and isn't even daily - just sometimes randomly....

 

[Snaredrum]

I had a Pistol Shrimp and he would crack loud. They normally move around sand and make a cave under the rock.

 

[Cheeselady]

I had a Pistol Shrimp and he would crack loud. They normally move around sand and make a cave under the rock.

Hum. I'll look for a cave, but I don't think I've seen one.

 

[Bronnerboy]

I have a pistol shrimp in my tank under a rock with a yellow spotted watchman goby. I hear the same popping later in the afternoon and so far my tank is still together. I dont think they will break the glass I just have no explanation why they are doing it.

 

[Snaredrum]

This is a very interesting read that explains it.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=119929&page=1

 

[A sea K]

Well I got new rock when I upgraded. I know I got at least one red mithrax hitchhiker.

Do you know the origin of the rock? Gulf based live rock is notorious for having pistol shrimp hitchhikers.