snapping sound from tank

[nycdominicanreef]

Everynight i hear a snapping/clicking sound coming from my tank when i put the moon lights on, what the hell is this?

 

[TheSherm]

pistol shrimp probably, could've hitched a ride on some LR, you get any new LR recently?

 

[albano]

sounds like you have a snapping shrimp, also called a 'thumb splitter'...claws can cut you and kill fish !

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It is probably a pistol shrimp that hitched in on a piece of rock. If you find that fish and crabs and snails are dying then it may be a mantis shrimp.

 

[nycdominicanreef]

scratching my head

i dont think its a mantis, none of my fish are dead, havent gotten new rock lately, snails are fine,
what are tell tale sign of pistol shrimps?

 

[Reeftanker3295]

A pistol shrimp will produce a very loud nouse, enough to make you jump if you aren't expecting it while a mantis shrimp is not as loud, you can just hear a small clicking. If it is only at night it may be a mantis... Go up to your tank at night with a red flashlight and look in with no lights on and maybe you will see him.

 

[nycdominicanreef]

mantis?

but if it were a mantis, wouldnt it be killing the livestock in the tank? for example, my ultra slow moving sand sifting star?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

My pistol fires off more at night than the day but it can catch you off guard and scare the bejeeeeeeezus out of you LOL

 

[Reeftanker3295]

but if it were a mantis, wouldnt it be killing the livestock in the tank? for example, my ultra slow moving sand sifting star?

Smashers make the loud noise and smashers eat snails, not starfish. Get a red lens and look in at night. He cannot see the red light so you will not spook him.
You may have to do this for a long time, mantis shrimp are very smart and have the most advanced eyes in the animal kingdom, you may not see him on the first try.

 

[nycdominicanreef]

probably a mantis

its like clicking the mouse of a computer, not loud at all

 

[Reeftanker3295]

That's what mine sounds like... Try to set a trap it may catch him but if not then you will need to locate his hole and you can pour seltzer water in it and he'll come shooting out.

 

[CrashGibson]

The pistol my shrimp is carrying must be a big un, cause when he snaps...ITS LOUD!...usually multiple times in a row. Sounds sorta like when you click a snapple lid back n forth.

 

[rookie07]

I have had both a pistol and a mantis. The mantis makes more of a clicking sound, the pistol makes more of a popping sound....from my experience.

 

[NYC Joe]

mantis snaps in 2, usually to kill something,
Pistols snap in random numbers. shoots off warning shots.

Look for small burrows (holes) in the sand

maybe you had one that was so small as a hitchhiker, you couldnt hear
now it grew, hence the noise now.
get a goby, pair him up.

-Joe

 

[Reeftanker3295]

I have a pet mantis shrimp and believe me you don't want one in your DT if it gets hungry. He cracks crabs in half with one punch that are twice his size!
And mantis don't smack twice repeditevely, they will smack rocks to burrow their home one smack after the next for a while and will smack once and then chase the critter around the tank hitting it as many times as needed to kill it.

 

[greggnyce]

My pistol only snaps at night, never during the day. Maybe if you stand in front of the tank and flex, you will scare it out. lol

 

[CrashGibson]

+1 HA!...agreed Greg!...I would be intimidated!

 

[rewris]

I used to hear a sort of snapping sound from my tank every other night or so, one night i turned the lights on to see one of the hermit crabs walking against the flow of the powerhead and the shell kept hittin the wall of the tank.

 

[nycdominicanreef]

flexing

i flex, play loud music, tap on the glass, put the powerhead on the rocks, no sign of anyone, lights go out............click, click, click, turn on the lights and clicking gone

 

[Cibo]

I thought I had a a mantis it turned out to be one of my timers were sticking and making a loud click noize!!!