Snapping sounds in my tank

Toolman · #1 01-16-2010, 09:16 PM

I just added about 80 lbs of live rock to my tank and now once in a while I hear snapping sounds comming from my tank. They seem to come in fast groups of 3 , I had a mantis shrimp hitch hiker from some other rock but I got rid of it. I have a fidler crab, could he be making the noises. I have lost 3 fish since I put in the new rock. I have a very small crab which I believe is a gorrila crab living in one of the rocks, but it seems to small to be killing my fish. Any body know what makes a loud sharp snapping sound ???

blueyota · #2 01-16-2010, 09:19 PM

I think you might have another mantis in there somwhere

no_bs · #3 01-16-2010, 09:23 PM

or pistol shrimp

blueyota · #4 01-16-2010, 09:26 PM

Just the missing fish leads me to think mantis....not sure but i dont think pistolshrimp will kill fish

Toolman · #5 01-16-2010, 09:31 PM

the other mantis didn't make any sounds like I hear now, could either of the crabs be doing it ? I heard that gorrila crabs are bad ???

Toolman · #6 01-16-2010, 09:33 PM

The snapping is rapid fire if that means anything ??

untamed · #7 01-17-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toolman

The snapping is rapid fire if that means anything ??

I don't think you can tell the difference between a pistol or a mantis just by the snap noise. I wouldn't worry about it either way.

Toolman · #8 01-17-2010, 12:41 AM

I am pretty sure the fish are worried about it

Canadian · #9 01-17-2010, 12:58 AM

There are a number of things it could be. Mantis and pistol shrimps get blamed most of the time. But I've heard similar noises from clown fish that will making a snapping sound with their jaws from time to time. Additionally, I discovered earlier this year that blue leg hermit crabs can make similar sounds as they attempt to violate each other for their shells. I was sitting by my tank and heard that dreaded clicking sound and jumped up to see what it was. I discovered it was a hermit crab violently tugging on another crab trying to evict it from its home and hitting the shell on the glass of my bare bottom tank.

Eyford01 · #10 01-17-2010, 02:41 AM

maybe check out some cheap diy mantis and crab traps just in case, leaning a glass jar with bait on the bottom against a rock for the night might catch the gorilla before it causes any (more?) damage, also i had a HH pistol shrimp, he would snap sometimes several times (up to 5 or 6) about a second apart but never caused any problems, only ever saw it twice just heard it lots