Mantis or Pistol Shrimp?

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by ElGuappo

if i trace back to day one i can say that i didnt realize that my smallest hermits were going missing i asumed they were growing and killing each other for shells. also noticed one of my marg snails has a crack all the way around.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAw Crap this hobby can be frusterating at the best of times.

I need to do a head count on my snails and hermits as well.

[mseepman]

Oscar,

I just bought a pistol/goby pair for my "in progress" nano tank. They are very cool when in a pair.

It sounds to me like you have a pistol shrimp in there somewhere. Usually they are harmless to to most things except other shrimp, like cleaners, etc.

I would keep looking with the flashlight, but I wouldn't worry too much.

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by mseepman

Oscar,

I just bought a pistol/goby pair for my "in progress" nano tank. They are very cool when in a pair.

It sounds to me like you have a pistol shrimp in there somewhere. Usually they are harmless to to most things except other shrimp, like cleaners, etc.

I would keep looking with the flashlight, but I wouldn't worry too much.

The pistol would explain the molt that floated by. I will keep my eyes open. I had been thinking of getting some cleaner shrimp but I will wait until I know what is lurking in the tank.

[nats]

I have a small pistol shrimp in my tank. It is always moving the sand around to make his burrow. He sometimes piles the sand up pretty high and changes location often. Have you seen rocks or sand collecting up in piles?

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by nats

I have a small pistol shrimp in my tank. It is always moving the sand around to make his burrow. He sometimes piles the sand up pretty high and changes location often. Have you seen rocks or sand collecting up in piles?

No nothing like that.

Although when I got home last night I discovered a crab molt. I have not ID'd it yet, I will try to post a photo tonight. No idea I had a crab in there. And then this morning I discovered the 3rd lobster molt in 2 months.

So at least 2 of the critters are feeding well.

And I heard more clicking this morning.

[Oscar]

Well I still hear the occasional clicking but other than a molts a few months ago no sign of a pistol shrimp. I removed a hitchhiker crab a few weeks ago.

I do have one suspicious pile of sand in one corner of my tank that has been there a few months. I have changed the water flow thinkig it might be a "dead spot" but it is still there. Looks like an ant hill with no real opening.

Before I add a shrimp goby to the tank I would like to confirm I have a pistol shrimp in residence. Will dismantling the ant hill tell me anything
? Any other tricks?

[Snaz]

I have a heard a clicking for 3 months since I inherited a 12g nano and never seen a molt or anything to suggest what it is. Always two fast clicks together, "cliclk-click!".

No missing inhabitants, no empty snail shells so I think it is a pistol. I have looked everywhere and being only 12g I should have seen something by now!