The dreaded click

The Claw · 03/22/2018, 01:43 PM

I heard it the other day from afar. I came to investigate and saw a snail climbing the glass near an outlet. I dismissed it as it’s shell on the glass. Then last night at 1245 am, the power went out. This was pretty much absolute silence besides my back up battery powering the reduced flow gyre pumps. Then the clicking started. Is it clicking or popping. Dang it was pretty loud. I hit the tank two or three times with a flashlight (no red) and didn’t spot anything. I guess time will tell if it’s a pistol,or a mantis. So far I haven’t noticed any casualties. It’s going on week 7 of the tank tomorrow. Grrrrr. I hope it’s not a mantis. I got nailed by one back in the day. That was nasty.

AlSimmons · 03/22/2018, 03:41 PM

Are you sure it wasn't an impeller trying to right itself? Has there been any unusual casualties lately? Hmm.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/22/2018, 08:22 PM

Could it have been the heater turning on? (Yes, I discovered that was my clicking sound ages ago)

The Claw · 03/23/2018, 12:22 PM

Heater is in a sump. Pretty sure it’s a shrimp of one sort or the other. The sound it from the rockwork somewhere. Hopeing to find a debri pile or something to indicate where. I have been watching for casualties but haven’t noted any yet.

oldhead · 03/23/2018, 05:30 PM

I added a pistol about a month ago for my watchman and no click

FamilyTank · 03/25/2018, 04:55 PM

Seems like whenever I add a pistol they hide for a couple of weeks at least. My current pistol"Mr.Krabs" is pretty quite.

davocean · 03/25/2018, 06:26 PM

If you have snails, typically you will see their shells pile up near the area where a mantis would be, if that's what it is.
Hopefully a pistol

fishy_mcfish · 03/25/2018, 06:30 PM

Hmm, I’ve noticed a click or two randomly at night but have never seen any evidence of a pistol or mantis. No movement of sand or pile of shells. So I have been curious about the sound as well. Last time I added rock was about 3 months ago and I’ve only recently started hearing the clicking

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alton · 03/26/2018, 05:14 AM

Clicking is normally a pistol shrimp and most times harmless. Mantis popping is from him/her busting liverock. If it is a pistol you may never see it. I had one for several years and never saw it. A mantis will get brave in a couple months and come out and bust rock in the open. I caught mine overnight after seeing it out in the open with a inverted bottle trap and table shrimp.

smatter · 03/26/2018, 08:57 AM

I'm leaning pistol as well. I have a bunch that came in my TBS rock that are noisy at times but I don't mind. I get an occasional glimpse, clear body with some orange and blue, cool looking little guys.

Fraq · 03/27/2018, 08:54 AM

Try one of those blue or red lights instead of a regular flash light, the white light will likely scare it away if it is in fact a pistol or mantis.

03/22/2018, 01:43 PM	#1
The Claw Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Selah Washington Posts: 16	The dreaded click I heard it the other day from afar. I came to investigate and saw a snail climbing the glass near an outlet. I dismissed it as it’s shell on the glass. Then last night at 1245 am, the power went out. This was pretty much absolute silence besides my back up battery powering the reduced flow gyre pumps. Then the clicking started. Is it clicking or popping. Dang it was pretty loud. I hit the tank two or three times with a flashlight (no red) and didn’t spot anything. I guess time will tell if it’s a pistol,or a mantis. So far I haven’t noticed any casualties. It’s going on week 7 of the tank tomorrow. Grrrrr. I hope it’s not a mantis. I got nailed by one back in the day. That was nasty.

03/22/2018, 08:22 PM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Could it have been the heater turning on? (Yes, I discovered that was my clicking sound ages ago) __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/25/2018, 06:26 PM	#7
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	If you have snails, typically you will see their shells pile up near the area where a mantis would be, if that's what it is. Hopefully a pistol __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/22/2018, 03:41 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Are you sure it wasn't an impeller trying to right itself? Has there been any unusual casualties lately? Hmm.

03/23/2018, 12:22 PM	#4
The Claw Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Selah Washington Posts: 16	Heater is in a sump. Pretty sure it’s a shrimp of one sort or the other. The sound it from the rockwork somewhere. Hopeing to find a debri pile or something to indicate where. I have been watching for casualties but haven’t noted any yet.

03/23/2018, 05:30 PM	#5
oldhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 527	I added a pistol about a month ago for my watchman and no click

03/25/2018, 04:55 PM	#6
FamilyTank Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Downriver,Mi Posts: 226	Seems like whenever I add a pistol they hide for a couple of weeks at least. My current pistol"Mr.Krabs" is pretty quite.

03/25/2018, 06:30 PM	#8
fishy_mcfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: so cal, Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 1,519	Hmm, I’ve noticed a click or two randomly at night but have never seen any evidence of a pistol or mantis. No movement of sand or pile of shells. So I have been curious about the sound as well. Last time I added rock was about 3 months ago and I’ve only recently started hearing the clicking Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/26/2018, 05:14 AM	#9
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Clicking is normally a pistol shrimp and most times harmless. Mantis popping is from him/her busting liverock. If it is a pistol you may never see it. I had one for several years and never saw it. A mantis will get brave in a couple months and come out and bust rock in the open. I caught mine overnight after seeing it out in the open with a inverted bottle trap and table shrimp.

03/26/2018, 08:57 AM	#10
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I'm leaning pistol as well. I have a bunch that came in my TBS rock that are noisy at times but I don't mind. I get an occasional glimpse, clear body with some orange and blue, cool looking little guys.

03/27/2018, 08:54 AM	#11
Fraq Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 52	Try one of those blue or red lights instead of a regular flash light, the white light will likely scare it away if it is in fact a pistol or mantis.