tell tale signs of a mantis?

[brianemone]

I really dont think that i have one but i just need to make sure

here is what has happened so far
When its dark i sometimes hear clicking
I just got some rock of someone
we got a litttle skunk clown and it dissapeared the second day

i dont want a mantis ( i know blasphemous)

how can i find out for sure

(ive tried looking with a flash light)

 

[Ishkabibble5710]

mantis shrimp trap

oh if you catch don't throw it out someone will take it from you i cant im not in new seleand.

 

[brianemone]

will that catch my cleaner shrimp as well?

 

[nubreefer]

Most likely it will eventually get your cleaner. It seems to me however, I read somewhere that if you're hearing the popping at night it may be more likely that it's a pistol shrimp.

 

[SimplyFast]

ive seen cleaners and mantis co-exist in a tank, though the cleaner never ventured from his corner of the tank. a few fish including a watchman goby, and a small clown lived in the same tank.
not too sure about the pistol, but i do know they pop during the day if they are bothered.

 

[jdieck]

Usually the Manthis clicks only once. A pistol usually clicks three in a row.

Inspect your rock, most manthis bore a perfectly rounded hole that is very noticeable. They get inside and cover the hole with small rock pieces or rounded cut shells. Comes out a couple of times a day (or night)

While they are boring it can aslo be noticed by the white dust like floating innto the water from the rock.

 

[SimplyFast]

ive heard just the opposite, that mantis click multiple times, and that pistol only click once. i am around a pistol shrimp all day, and when he gets annoyed by a fish he clicks just once.

 

[oddball_from_ac]

both mantis/pistol click multiple times or just once, with mantis depends on type food item or working on their home, pistols its just them being anoyed and clicks depends on if the disturbance moves away fast

 

[jdieck]

Well.. I think I have been doing the wrong reading.. Thanks for the clarification.. I have both manthis and pistol and that was also my experience but seems it will depend on the circumtances.

Any way, another possible sign of a manthis is multiple snail empty shells ! If I could only catch that guy.. Half of my cerith snails are already gone, he has dispatched over 20 already!