I hear a clicking noise coming from my tank!

[mtennant]

I hear a clicking noise coming from my tank? Does any body know what it can be?.... Its only at night when the lights are off...

 

[smork81]

It is probably from one of the inhabitants in the tank. I had a pair of pink skunk clowns that would make noises occasionally.

What's your stock list?

 

[mes1]

could be a bunch of things......pistol shrimp, clowns, mantis shrimp... lets see a stock list ***)

 

[renogaw]

and you best hope its not a mantis...
on a curiousity... how do clowns click?

 

[beth]

Do you have any cardinals or clownfish?

 

[smork81]

Well from what I observed with my 2 skunk clowns they were "getting used to" each other. While doing this they were fanning each other with their caudal fin and clicking at the same time. I could see there mouths move a bit when I heard the clicking noise.

 

[joebob7]

i have heard about hitchhiker crabs under peoples rocks that make clicking noises

 

[reefboys]

Sure sounds like a Mantis to me... Good luck.

 

[mtennant]

Well so far I don't see a Mantis yet!!!! :cheer: I had one long long time ago in a driffent tank so I know what it looks like... But now I got a 180 Gallon tank with:
Blue hippo tang
Doctor tang
2-Filament Flasher wrasse
Velvet Fairy wrasse
Mandarin Dragonet
2-Yellow watchman goby
5-4wheel drive goby
Rusty Angel Fish
Keyhole Angel Fish
Canary Blenny
Clarkii Clownfish
Blue chromis
Golden Rabbit Fish
2- Yellow Tang

 

[mtennant]

Wow.. Thats cool I didn't know that clowns click... :hilarious

 

[beth]

Fish clicks are usually a tad softer than the dreaded mantis. Keep an eye out after lights out and during clicking session to see if you notice the mantis.

 

[shogun323]

Is it a constant clicking? or does it do it for a bit and then stop? The reason I ask is because Mantis don't actually click. The clicking noise from a Mantis comes from the impact of them striking their prey with an appendage. So basically how loud the noise is depends on what it is hitting.
May be a Pistol Shrimp. If it happens at night, try looking with a flashlight with a red lense.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by shogun323
Is it a constant clicking? or does it do it for a bit and then stop? The reason I ask is because Mantis don't actually click. The clicking noise from a Mantis comes from the impact of them striking their prey with an appendage. So basically how loud the noise is depends on what it is hitting.
May be a Pistol Shrimp. If it happens at night, try looking with a flashlight with a red lense.
Yep, or you can put a red cloth over a flashlight.

 

[cnall]

Mine also clicks and I always hear it at ngiht after the lights have been out for a while...finally observed what it was, my aggressive blue legs would fight and their shells would bang together. No casualties but a lot of noise sometime, but definitely way softer than a mantis

 

[mtennant]

Well Thanks for evey body help!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope its not a MANTIS but it almost sound just like it at night.. And its not evey night but maybe 2 or 3 times a week.
flashlight with a red lense???? What is that for?... Well I see the Mantis or something else?...
Thank you guys and Girls for all your help!!

 

[mtennant]

But I did it with a flashlight with a red lense and didn't see anything bad.. YET!!!!! :cheer:

 

[renogaw]

the red lens is to help you see what goes on in your tank at night, but red is a color that won't spook the inhabitants.

 

[mtennant]

Ohhh ok... That sounds good... :thinking: