clicking noise

[sarah]

Hi everyone,
Just been watching my tank and heard a noise it sounds like something is throwing marbles at the glass, any suggesions please [getting worried].
Thanks sarah xxx

[nivek]

could be a mantis shrimp which can pose a problem if it grows up.

[Gina]

UH OH! Yes, I agree with nivek! I would try to trap it if at all possible. Tilt a glass up in your aquarium and thrown in a piece of shrimp. Hopefully, the mantis will go in to get the shrimp and when he tries to get back out won't be able to climb up out.

Good Luck!

[Cougra]

What kind of animals do you have in your tank as well? The mantis is a strong candidate for clicking but some fish could be moving rocks around on you or hetmits could be bumping the glass as well.

[Mary]

How long have you had the tank set up and have you added any new rock lately? If you try to trap a Mantis, a baby bottle or coke bottle will be some choices to start with. A Mantis swims the water column and can swim right out of the glass, they are quick! I hope it's just as Cougra said and the crabs are just hitting against the glass!

[sarah]

Hi,
ive had the mantis problem but sorted it.
tank been set up 11 wks have not adder any rock for a while,
i have got 2 hemits, 3 turbo snails, 1 cleaner shrimp, arrow crab and a sand shifter starfish.
thanks sarah xxx

[NaH2O]

Sarah,

It might be a snail or hermit bumping it's shell against the glass. Other ideas are pistol shrimp or manits (already mentioned). Have you noticed a pattern to the clicking sound? Here is a quote from Rogue Corps on another site:

Pistol shrimps will click in ones and twos since this is a predatory attack, and mantises may click similarly but also many times in succession especially when smashing rock in their dens or opening shells. Basically, if you hear 3, 4, and 5 clicks in a row you can pretty much rule out a pistol shrimp.

I know you mentioned that you haven't added any live rock in awhile, but it is still possible there is a hitchhiker present.

Another possibility is there is a Spanish Dancer in your tank clicking her castanets.

[sarah]

are pistal shrimps a problem like mantis shrimps

sarah xxx

[NaH2O]

From what I've gathered....pistol shrimp are not as aggressive as mantis. People keep pistol shrimp in their tanks without problems. Maybe you could try setting a baited trap or bait the tank and see what comes out? Do any of your snails or hermits hang out by a power head? How long have you been hearing the clicking? Hopefully we will figure this out for you.

[SaltyQueen]

A good way to catch a mantis or crab (if that's what it is) is to put a piece of frozen shrimp in the foot end of some nylon stockings, tie it shut, and let it hang in your tank over night. If it's a mantis, he'll try to grab it & his claws will get stuck in the nylon, then you can pull him out the next day.

[NaH2O]

The only problem I forsee with the nylon trap is the arrow crab...however, I am unfamiliar with them, so maybe it wouldn't be a problem.

[sarah]

been hearing it for about a week now.
good idea with the stocking, arrow crab might get stuck though [he is demented].
Thanks sarah xxx

[SaltyQueen]

i didn't think of that- he most likely would get stuck- if you have a sump or refugium, you could move him there for the night while you try to catch the mantis.

[NaH2O]

I agree...Sarah, do you have another spot for your crab temporarily?

[sarah]

Hi, no i havent.

sarah xxx