Constant Clicking

[Phillip Hudson]

I've decided that it's a pistol shrimp in our tank and not a mantis as we
haven't lost that many fishes, and the ones we've lost have all show signs
of being 'ill.'

The thing is I've never seen the little sod. It's been clicking really loud
for the last 30 mins now, I think I know where it might be, but I'm not sure
so no matter how hard I try, I can't see it. The design of the aquarium
doesn't allow me to look around the back either.

I was wondering if there's a way to catch it so I can at least see what it
is, but not harm it? The best idea I've got is the old inverted bottle trap
(cut the top off and turn it around) where they can climb in, but not out.
Will this harm it if I attempt to catch it, or is it best just to leave it
to click and do my head in as I'll never see what it is?

Thanks

Phillip

[Charles Spitzer]

"Phillip Hudson" > wrote in message
...
> I've decided that it's a pistol shrimp in our tank and not a mantis as we
> haven't lost that many fishes, and the ones we've lost have all show signs
> of being 'ill.'
>
> The thing is I've never seen the little sod. It's been clicking really
loud
> for the last 30 mins now, I think I know where it might be, but I'm not
sure
> so no matter how hard I try, I can't see it. The design of the aquarium
> doesn't allow me to look around the back either.
>
> I was wondering if there's a way to catch it so I can at least see what it
> is, but not harm it? The best idea I've got is the old inverted bottle
trap
> (cut the top off and turn it around) where they can climb in, but not out.
> Will this harm it if I attempt to catch it, or is it best just to leave it
> to click and do my head in as I'll never see what it is?
>
> Thanks
>
> Phillip
>

since they don't climb around the outside of the rocks too much, it might be
hard to trap them this way. if you do catch it, it won't get harmed.
however, they can use their tails to jet around (like shrimp do) so they may
not be trapped like a normal crab would.

i've had one for about 4 years, and never seen it. i know it's there because
i collected and added it myself, and it digs in the sand bed and leaves
piles of sand that it's excavated from under the live rock.