SNAP!!, Hummm is that a Mantis??

[fppf]

Ok so a few weeks after getting a huge shippment of LR (100 lbs) I started hearing this snaping noise about 2-3 hours after the lights go off. Its so loud I can hear it laying in bed on the other side of the house!

Any ideas of what it is and how do I try to catch it?
I have also noticed that my snails have started to drop like flies. At first I blamed my Red African Sea Star, he has been known to snag one here and there. But I think I may have falsely accused him.

 

[sandlot13]

it could be a mantis shrimp, but it could also be a pistol shrimp.......... just try to locate the source of the sound when it starts, narrowing it down to a specific rock. Once you know the home of your enemy, it is much easier to rid them from your tank..... and then send the little buggers to me!

 

[fppf]

Yeah right, find where he lives in almost 200 lbs of rock lol.

Someone told me they could break the glass with the claw, true or myth?

 

[rogerwells]

not the one you have....only really big ones....and its really rare that it would do that anyways

 

[fischcrazy]

the only documented occurance occured in grat britian ind it was 1/4 in. glass. my 55gal has1/4 in glass, and you have a 125 gal.......your safe

btw, locate as best a possible the source of the sound, and when you hear it, put a spotlight on the bugger, and try to see if you can id it

 

[fppf]

I had my moon lights on last night in order to try and see it and I never heard the thing snap. Do they only come out in pitch black? I just got an order of smaller fish in from live aquaria, in 30 days they will be going in the main tank. Don't want them to get eaten.

 

[dbrooks1440]

I have a mantis in a tank at work that will bang away at all hours of the day.

At home I have pistol. It seems that the pistol only snaps at night after the lights are off...my bet is that you have a pistol. But do pistols hitch hike?

Additionally, if it is a mantis, doesn't the fact that it is snapping make it a smasher, by default (do spearers "snap")?

If it is a smasher, aren't they somewhat fish friendly? My smasher couldn't care less about my fish in the tank...

 

[fischcrazy]

they may be fish friendly, but will kill shrimp, lobsters, crabs, and hermits. pistols DO hitchhike, i got three on some rock about a year back...my eel ate em /

 

[fppf]

Well this rock came out of an existing tank that was being torn down. So it was only out of water for an hour or so. I got a lot of cool stuff on it. There is a crab that looks like a emrald but its black and red. I'm looking for him now.

 

[rogerwells]

post pictures

 

[LisaD]

how can he post pictures? he has not seen it yet.

 

[fppf]

Well last night was another dud.
Did not see or hear the little bugger. I think he knows I'm out to get him.

 

[rogerwells]

i meant of his tank

 

[Nirol]

Here's a pic of mine... I think... First time I have seen him in 8 months. I hear him daily. I took this pic with a flash to light up a dark hole I knew he was in. I have set a bottle trap. If I get him, anyone want him?

 

[Nirol]

Got him! The bottle trap baited with krill soaked in garlic worked! He went in three times, and backed out three times. Finally, he went all the way in and was caught! He is a blood red rascal about 1.5 to 2 inches long. I tossed him in the QT.

But rats!.. 5 minutes later I still hear clicking from the display! Either I have another mantis or a pistol as I originally thought....

 

[fppf]

Well I have not seen mine yet and I have not heard him in 2 nights. Maybe its not a shrimp?? Don't know what else it could be but it seems that if there in there they click a lot.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder on this one. Man is that thing ugly why would anyone want that? I will get some new pics of the tank shortly, I have not taken any yet since the rock. I have been waiting for it to fill out with the coralin first.

 

[dbrooks1440]

If you can package him well, I will take him...but I live in San Diego.

 

[mtbetta]

It may take a while to see him with that much live rock. I have heard snapping in my tank for about six months. I only have about sixty pounds of rock and last night was the first time I was able to get a good look at it. It has finally moved out of the rock and now has a few small holes dug in the sand under the rock. Mine turned out to be a pistol and at most it is 3/4 of an inch long. I can't believe something that small can make that much noise. I use a small pen light that has a red filter on it and it still shot back in its hole when the light fell on it.

 

[Nirol]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6458305#post6458305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dbrooks1440
If you can package him well, I will take him...but I live in San Diego.

I doubt that he would survive the shipment...and I really don't have much (any) experience in packaging.

 

[fischcrazy]

talk to your LFS and ask if they can give you some tips. i live closer (nashville, tennessee) if you do ship it