I just setup my tank a few months ago. Every once and awhile I would hear popping sounds. Sometimes its once and awhile and other times it pops like crazy. I just noticed my snails and hermits dying one by one and they are all in one corner of the tank. The pops are pretty loud.... I dont know where the sound is coming from(fuge or main). How can I try to figure out if its a mantis or a pistol? Also how can i trap it?
Pistol Or Mantis?
- Thread starter NoobieReefer
- Start date
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY
Set up camp at night and wait with a flashlight. =) Don;t turn it on untill you hear the sounds.
A baby mantis won't have the power to break open some shells and will knock them around then attack.
A baby mantis won't have the power to break open some shells and will knock them around then attack.
pistols are very loud. I think my pistol can make a louder noise than a large mantis. The pistol has a hollow pistol like snap, and mantis has more of a heavy hit...
I dont know if this makes sence but pistol is more likly to be in ur tank than a mantis...
I dont know if this makes sence but pistol is more likly to be in ur tank than a mantis...
Pistol's versus mantis.
I hope you can forgive my intrusion, but Pistol shrimps (Decapoda Alpheus) will not kill fish and are model citizens in a reef. They feed exclusively on tiny invertebrates and detritus.
Noobie, In my experience the vast majority of "popping" shrimp that hitch hike are from the Pistol family as they are small enough to hide in tiny crevices even when they are full grown. As for empty shells, that is one reason you will not find any snails or hermits in my system because they have a tendency to cannibalize one another and/or just die off on occasion causing little pockets of pollution when they do.
My advice - until you get a good look at the lil' bugger some night and can confirm or deny its type, I would assume the best, enjoy the "popping", and think of it as a great party topic when friends are ooohhing and aaaahhing over your tank.
But heh that's just one dude's advice, and I'm sure others will chime in . . . :wink1:
HTH,
Joe
I hope you can forgive my intrusion, but Pistol shrimps (Decapoda Alpheus) will not kill fish and are model citizens in a reef. They feed exclusively on tiny invertebrates and detritus.
Noobie, In my experience the vast majority of "popping" shrimp that hitch hike are from the Pistol family as they are small enough to hide in tiny crevices even when they are full grown. As for empty shells, that is one reason you will not find any snails or hermits in my system because they have a tendency to cannibalize one another and/or just die off on occasion causing little pockets of pollution when they do.
My advice - until you get a good look at the lil' bugger some night and can confirm or deny its type, I would assume the best, enjoy the "popping", and think of it as a great party topic when friends are ooohhing and aaaahhing over your tank.
But heh that's just one dude's advice, and I'm sure others will chime in . . . :wink1:
HTH,
Joe
Killerdrgn
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Park Ridge, NJ
try looking around with a red light at night when you hear popping in your tank, make sure you don't have any other lights in the area though.
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