how quick can Mantis Shrimp strike consecutavely(SP)?

[b4rrett]

as above, the reason i ask is that a couple of times a week a hear a clicking noise 4 or 5 times in a row that last about 2 seconds. at 1st i thought it was my neighbours tapping on the wall or something weird, but its definatly coming from the tank. its always when the mh are off and the 1* 50w acitinic is on. I havn't noticed any snail losses as i have quite alot and I also have alot of replacement shells in the tank. ive not noticed any broken shells and my boxer shrimp is still around. Im just wordering if i have a mantis or not

thanks in advance

 

[scsinet]

Well honestly this sounds like a mantis. A pistol shrimp is another possibility, but they make the noise to defend their territory, so they'll make it anytime day or night, and they also usually do single pops, two at the most.
Have you put any new live rock (or corals attached to rock) into the tank lately?
You can hunt for them at night using a flashlight with a red filter on it. I think you can get the filters at a camera shop.

 

[grennan]

Not sure about the Mantis.
Do you have any larger hermit crabs...around 1"?
The noise you describe is the same I hear when my crabs fall from rocks or just walk into the glass.

 

[b4rrett]

i have approx 45kg of lice rock in a 75g tank which has been up and running for approx 8 months. i do have a couple of hermits 1" +. but the sounds it like tapping on plasterboard 5-6 times within a couple of seconds.
thanks,
gb

 

[scsinet]

Well a tapping and a clicking noise are two different things.
When pistols or mantis shrimp make their noise, it sounds like a very pronounced CLICK noise... like a marble being dropped on a ceramic tile floor.
It could be we're talking about the same thing, but if it sounds like a tapping on the wall, are you sure your neighbor isn't messing with you?
If you've had the rock in there 8 months, it's unlikely you'd have any fish or snails left if a mantis has been in there feeding the whole time.

 

[princess8077]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
Well honestly this sounds like a mantis. A pistol shrimp is another possibility, but they make the noise to defend their territory, so they'll make it anytime day or night, and they also usually do single pops, two at the most.
Have you put any new live rock (or corals attached to rock) into the tank lately?
You can hunt for them at night using a flashlight with a red filter on it. I think you can get the filters at a camera shop.
Not sure, but I think I read somewhere that the mantis can see the red?

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by Princess8077
Not sure, but I think I read somewhere that the mantis can see the red?

Maybe... ??

 

[ophiura]

Also make sure that it is not a hermit or snail falling against the glass. If they are in the flow of a powerhead, sometimes this can knock them against the glass and make a clicking sound several times in quick succession.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by Princess8077
Not sure, but I think I read somewhere that the mantis can see the red?

Next step would be military (or deer poaching) night vision goggles.