Snapping noise...

[Blk_Gto]

Recently, I've been hearing this snapping noise in my reef right when the lights go out and it's starting to worry me. It sounds like a snapple cap. I'm thinking mantis shrimp.

Anyone with any other ideas? And if it is a mantis, what's the best way to get rid of that damn thing???

 

[dmentnich]

If you are luck it is a mantis, if not you may have a pistol. I have been considering setting up a 10 Gal species tank and I will have to BUY the mantis. Anyhow, from what I understand they like shrimp, prawns or silversides. If you take a water bottle cut off the top couple of inches, invert it and silicone it back on you will have your trap. Submerge it with the bait in it and eventually you will get it.

 

[carolina98]

Just to show the diversity of a group of reef-o-holics... I say you're lucky if it's the Pistol Shrimp! (Just paid $30 for a Tiger Pistol) Be careful putting your hands into the rockwork, at least until you know if you have a Mantis. If you see any of your smaller fish disappearing, chances are it's the Mantis.

Do a search on Pistol Shrimp (family Alpheus), you may decide you want a Shrimp Goby to pair him with, once you figure out just what you have. Here's a link to a thread about buying the "pair." Shrimp / Goby Pair (?)

I've also heard some of our snails spinning on the glass between the rocks, so that's always a possibility too. The cracking of the snails on the glass sounds just like a small Pistol shrimp.

Good luck, and again be careful until you know it's not a Mantis. They can slice you up pretty badly!

 

[Blk_Gto]

Well, the tank's been set-up for over a year now and I'm not missing any corals and such. All the fish are kicking too.

I recently added a clown goby to my tank and I see that it's tail has been messed up from time to time. I'm not sure if it's something that's going on at night or my overly aggressive clown. To find out, I have taken the clown out and put him in the sump. We will see in the next couple weeks.

I know what pistol shrimp are and that was my second guess but I thought it was most likely the mantis w/ my luck. Recently, I've added some xenia to the tank but it isn't doing to well. That could be due to them falling off the rockwork at times or something is eating them at night. Do pystol shrimp or mantis shrimp like xenia???

Also, will that inverted water bottle trick work for both type of shrimp? I don't have much space on the sandbed but I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Carolina: Thanks for the link. If it is a pystol, I'll try to get him a friend

 

[nick danger]

Gosh, I wouldn't consider a mantis "lucky" either!

The bottle method is not foolproof. For animals not so far removed taxinomically from insects, they are clever little guys. The figure out very quickly you are trying to get them.

This is what eventually worked for me, after lots of other failed methods:

I located him, and then separated the rest of the rocks while a friend made sure he didnt make a dash to another rock. Then I stuck the rock in a 10 gal, siphoned tank water into it, stuck in a heater and powerhead, and waited...

Eventually he came out, I yanked out the rock quickly, and then popped open a beer while the beast swam about desperately looking for cover.

I didnt get one of the beautiful colorful ones; mine was turd brown.

 

[dmentnich]

As long as pistol shrimp like the bait and can get through the neck I cant see why it wouldn't work.

 

[Blk_Gto]

How did you locate him? If I go by ear, I believe he is in the right side of my tank but I have no idea where he's hiding.

 

[nick danger]

Yeah, thats tricky.

I saw his stalky little eyeballs poking out of the underside of a rock. Hopefully yours will provide you the same assistance.

 

[Anonymous]

I just got my mantis out of my tank. after watching a piece of shrimp rot in the soda bottle trap for a week, i decided to just pull the rock and dump seltzer on it.

I had seen him quite alot running from one rock to the other (I only have two in my 15 gal) I put in a fresh piece of shrimp, and waited until I knew he was in the big rock, and pulled it out of my tank and put it in a bucket. Then I dumped soda water on it (where I knew he would be hiding,) and he came FLYING out of the rock. I netted him and put him in his own 4 gal, which was set up waiting for him.

The rock went back into the tank, and everything is alright.

He is red and brown. I have yet to find out more about him.

On a side note, I may have lost a blue sponge, and today found a small crab carcass on the sand. The plus side of the bad side is that where I poured the seltzer, the hair algea died.

B

 

[MarkO1]

Pistols and Mantis make similar sounds. Of course the pistol is making it with his larger "claw". The Mantis makes it on other unfortunate passer-by's shells. I've had both and still have a few pistols and maybe a mantis lingering. I've captured both as well. Mantis are easier since they aren't as reclusive. I would spot one, then try to force or separate him to another area or smaller rock, then I'd either remove the rock with him or I'd squash him with a wooden dowel between the rock. They (Mantis) are a lot easier to catch than most fish, so you should be in luck if you have the patience and motivation.
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[lady diver]

We have a mantis shrim & have to tried to catch him for a year. He's too fast. When we pull the rock out he's in he splits out a back door & is imposible to catch.
When we see him in a open area we try with big tweasers to catch him & he smacks the tweasers & scares the **** out of you. I would smash him if I could catch him. They kill everything. Look for a pile of dead snails & crabs, thats where it hangs out. They call them thumb spliters don't let him get you.

Good luck, If you catch him I want to know how you did it.