strange clicking noise in the tank at night??

[dreamer44]

what is this Ive been reading about the "strange clicking" in the tank at night and then fish coming up missing??

I keep seeing different post's about it, but I have yet to read what the clicking is coming from?
Im to assume its some kind of hitchhiker in the tank, that only comes out at night and I guess is eating the fish in the tank....what is it? does anyone realy know? Does anyone have a picture of the "clicker"...
I dont have a tank set up yet, my 24g nano is being delivered tomorrow sometime. I just want to be aware of it and what it is before I even set the tank up.
The more I read about the "bad" hitchhikers., the more I think I will not put any live rock in the tank and just get the ls and use all base rock to start off with. I want to have a couple of clowns...the perc's or oc's (havn't decided for sure just yet, been doing alot of reading) But I want them to stick around...I dont want to end up with a "clicker"
so if any of you know what it is, and/or have a picture please post and let me in on it....thanks
Lori

 

[sflasurfer]

imo pistol shrimp

 

[dreamer44]

ok,,,next question....if a Pistol shrimp will eat your fish in your tank..why in the world would anyone ever buy one?
Lori

 

[stone]

I have had a Pistol shrimp for about 3 years. It dosnt exactly make a "clicking" sound more like a loud popping sound. It dosnt seem at all aggressive, it hangs out with my orange goby.

 

[lsu]

The "clicking" noise is from a mantis shrimp, it could be a pistol but a pistol is less likely to kill your fish. Mantis' will generally kill your inverts first and then your fish. type in mantis shrimp under the search feature and you will find all of the info that you will need on them

 

[rbrockm1]

this may sound stupid but i know its true and that is my hermits when they walk along the sandbed and glass there shells will hit the glass and make a clicking sound. ive watched it cause i wanted to know what it was. but my tank is smaller and has thinner glass.

 

[sflasurfer]

Originally Posted by LSU
The "clicking" noise is from a mantis shrimp, it could be a pistol but a pistol is less likely to kill your fish. Mantis' will generally kill your inverts first and then your fish. type in mantis shrimp under the search feature and you will find all of the info that you will need on them
I stand corrected and appolagize thank you for the correction

 

[susiestank]

Yea the clicking that people generally talk about are from mantis shrimps. I read some post where the shrimp actually broke glass. Crazy huh?

 

[renogaw]

Originally Posted by rbrockm1
this may sound stupid but i know its true and that is my hermits when they walk along the sandbed and glass there shells will hit the glass and make a clicking sound. ive watched it cause i wanted to know what it was. but my tank is smaller and has thinner glass.
there's a definite difference between hermits clicking their shells and a mantis shrimp. go to youtube and search mantis shrimp. there are some CRAZY videos there.
and yes, a smasher mantis shrimp can break glass or even your fingers

 

[grubsnaek]

mantis

 

[groupergenius]

The pistol shrimp are pretty calm. You'll hardly ever see them until feeding time. Their "pop" is really loud. Imagine hitting a metal spoon or something on the glass. And they don't do it often unless harassed. Sounds like yours is a mantis. They can be very aggresive.

 

[saltyshogun]

Originally Posted by renogaw
there's a definite difference between hermits clicking their shells and a mantis shrimp. go to youtube and search mantis shrimp. there are some CRAZY videos there.
and yes, a smasher mantis shrimp can break glass or even your fingers
That's Crazy!!!! I had some clicking and thought it was my pump, now I'm sitting at work and wondering what the sound was really from.

 

[renogaw]

there ARE some things that will click in a tank. heck, my clowns click some times. if you have a pebble or something on the outlet side of your pump it could be possible as well.
surest sign of a mantis is either slashed up fish or broken snail shells (depending on what type of mantis)

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by renogaw
there's a definite difference between hermits clicking their shells and a mantis shrimp. go to youtube and search mantis shrimp. there are some CRAZY videos there.
and yes, a smasher mantis shrimp can break glass or even your fingers
take a small shell and tap it on your glass same sound then its your hermit

 

[saltn00b]

mantis breaking glass is a long standing rumor. i have never seen someone post that it has happened to them or seen it happen. the mantis only use it to kill their prey , how would a wall of glass be misconstrued as prey?
seems like it is most likely and mantis, or possibly a pistol of some kind.

 

[renogaw]

ehh, i could believe it. a pistol shrimp's claws snap open with the force of a .22 bullet, and a mantis is supposed to be even harder--how else will they shatter shells? i could see a mantis missing it's prey and hitting a 1/4" glass and shattering it. often? maybe not. possible? yea

 

[saltn00b]

possible? yes. not likely tho. they usually grab the prey and bring it back to there cave and crack the shell there. all im saying is i have never seen a single post of 'help my mantis blew out my tank'

 

[nigerbang]

Originally Posted by saltn00b
possible? yes. not likely tho. they usually grab the prey and bring it back to there cave and crack the shell there. all im saying is i have never seen a single post of 'help my mantis blew out my tank'
I have heard it a million times also...Never seen it though..Its said they have the potential with that wicked speed, But I have never known of anyone that its happened to..Sounds like a job for the Mythbusters..

 

[b bauer]

do you have turbo snails?some times when one of mine get caught between the glass and a rock the turn side to side and make a clicking noise against the glass

 

[groupergenius]

Did ya'll check out the vids on youtube. I did earlier, awsome. Although I didn't see the power enough to break glass. Would it hurt our comparetivly frail skin??? Chya.
Some of the vids you can clearly hear the fast clicking noise they make when in major aggresive mode. Dreamer44, check the vids and see if it's the same sound.