Help - Mantis Shrimp or Pistol Shrimp
 

The other day I bought a few Emerald crabs and whenever one gets near a certain hole in the rock, I can see and hear a tiny 'shrimp' snap at the crab. The hole that this thing is living in is tiny and I have not added any new live rock in well over 18 months... From what I can see, it's 'snapper/pincher,' for lack of a better term, is about the size of a grain of rice.

I am trying to figure out if it is a Mantis Shrimp or just a Pistol Shrimp. Does anyone have any experience with either of these creatures? From what I have read, mantis grow to be somewhat larger (ie. 3-4 inches) than pistol shrimp who are smaller in size. With the rock in the tank being older, I would think that what ever is living in it would be past it's juvenile stage and closer to full size? Is there such thing as a mini mantis?

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

at that size it cannot pose any threat to anything in the tank. I wouldn't worry about it

Yeah...it may be a while before you figure out which type it is...but it doesn't matter. They are both going to be harmless.

If you here the snapping when the crab approaches the hole in the rock then you are dealing with a pistol shrimp. Pistol shrimp have pinchers and will make that snapping noise as a warning mechanism to potential intruders. A Mantis shrimp would only make that noise if it was hitting something. They don't give any warning.

My Guess: PISTOL SHRIMP. Almost 100% Positive!:biggrin:

Well I like that guess! After reading a bit more I would have to agree with you.

Thanks!

Jay

a mantis would go after it's prey, it wouldn't likely try to scare it away

if the crab was significantly larger, i doubt a mantis would commit suicide in the hopes of a meal. and yeah, I would have to agree with sunce, likely a pistol.