Possible mantis???

[thrlride]

Here's the deal. I recently took a 29 gallon tank and turned it into a 90. Most of the rock from the 29 went in the 90. I had about 50 or 60 pounds of other rock in a rubbermaid in my garage for 8 or so months. I had a heater and a powerhead in there. I did about three water changes over that time frame in the cycling rock.

Anyway, now I hear a popping at night in the tank. It's a loud snapping sound. I don't see one anywhere during the night. Is it possible I had one survive the rock in a rubbermaid process? I mean, he had hardly nothing to eat for 8 months.

What are some signs that one is in there other than the snapping sound? It was so loud it actually had me checking the glass for cracks!

 

[floridajhawk]

a lot of snaps close together in time usually means its nothing more than a pistol shrimp look for a lot of empty snail or hermit shells, holes in rock or what not, hey if u catch him and dont want him ive been lookin for one forever

 

[thrlride]

Yeah, the snaps are grouped together usually. They don't happen when the lights are on and don't happen when I am near the tank, light or dark. Would he be near a bunch of empty shells?

 

[langjc]

i hear those noises in my tank, but have never seen anything. How can i get a look at what is doing this.

 

[amcarrig]

I was always under the impression that it's just the opposite. When my mantis eats, it smacks its victim's shell several times in succession. I believe that there is a brief pause in between pistol shrimp "snaps" because the shrimp needs a few seconds to "reload".

 

[langjc]

how can i catch whatever is making this noise. Would a mantis have killed something in my tank because i havent really noticed anything missing. I put two cleaner shrimp in that came up missing several months ago, but i still have 3 in their right now that are doing fine. Their may be a decrease in the number of hermits, but not really sure.

 

[speedsport]

amcarrig Is right the pistol takes short breaks in between snaps. Also a pistol is more of a snap sound. A mantis will be several clicks in a row close to gether. A mantis would be likley to take a few hermits and snails. As far as a shrimp goes a mantis could of taken them depending on the size of it. For catching it try to find its hole and take a clear pop bottle ant cut the top off and turn it around and use fishing line or some thing to hold it in.

 

[Deity]

I would have to disagree with amcarrig and speedsport. I have a pistol and it will snap 3-4 times in a row. I've never had a mantis so not sure if they snap many times together or not. All I know is that a pistol will.

Stacie

 

[speedsport]

Im not saying they wont snap several times in a row. I also own a pistol shrimp. Mine will snap generaly 3 times in a row with little breaks in between. A mantis hits the shell of its prey repeatidly to break it. A mantis dose not snap a pistol dose.

 

[floridajhawk]

most mantis shrimp will bang the shell of a hermit or snail reposition it and bang it again. at least mine does. my pistol shrimp however will pop pop pop quite often usually in groups of 3 or 4 hope this helps

 

[thrlride]

How about ways to catch him?

 

[DaddyJax]

You could do the bottle trap but that is 50/50 imo. Look for sand bieng shot out like a snowblower! That would be it!