Mantis shrimp in there (or not?)

[justinl]

I see no real evidence of a mantis. You heard no clicking which tells me that it probably wouldnt be the smashing kind of mantis. The other kind uses spears but is virtually impossible to get as a hitchiker. A smasher (more likely hitcher) will usually smash shells open, not pull hermits out. Spearers usually don't even bother with shelled things.

Have you tried staking out the tank? If you don't ever see anything unusual in the day, sit by the tank at night and watch and wait.

Did the old LR have anything in it that might have caused this kind of damage? Serpent stars? Big worms?

[RicePaddy]

On the odd evening I can hear clicking in my tank. But I have not been able to see anything. You mention that the Mantis would smash the shell to get at a snail or a crab. So I guess eveidence would be shells with holes in them?

Will

[justinl]

Do you ever get missing hermits/snails or their busted shells? If so then yes that would lean towards a mantis. A visual is of course the only solid evidence. Clicking alone is not hard evidence because more often than not, it ends up being a relatively harmless pistol shrimp. Or on the odd occasion a snail that is in front of a powerhead and is having its shell banged against the glass.

[RicePaddy]

I have found some shells with holes in the top and sides. Alot of holes.

Will

[justinl]

were the holes irregular like they were smashed in? or perfect circles. There are some snails that can grind through a shell to get to the insides. How often do you find these shells?

[RicePaddy]

I found two that I can see within the last two months. It almost looks like the shell may have degraded or I guess could have been punctured and peeled back. Hard to tell.

Will

[justinl]

I can't imagine a mantis of any species/size that could survive for a month between feedings. Do you have any other mysterious vanishings? If ynot, Then I doubt it's a mantis. And even if it is, a snail a month isn't such a bad price to avoid tearing down your entire system in search of something that might not even be there (that would be a let down and a half )