Pistol shrimp?

[HiepNotik]

I don't even know where to start, well I have a 10g nano, and recently about 1-2 weeks I have seen these 2 holes under my LR where the sand has been dug out, and today a third hole, the other day I saw a big claw coming out but it quickly went back in, then today when I was looking at my pods (no fish....)saw the claw again but it went back in again, I'm not sure what it is, but I think its a pistol shrimp, at night I hear snaping snaping, but my heater visi therm does the same clicking when it turns on and off, but not quick, this snapping goes pretty fast. man I'm kinnda scared and kindda freaked out, not sure what it is, hope its not a mantis shrimp, cause I really don't want a crack aquarium, but then again a mantis shrimps is **** cool. can somone tell from my discription that its a pistol shrimp?

1. holes
2. snaping
3 1 claw is bigger then the other.

pistol shrimp?

[Reefscape]

I wouod say thats a pistol shrimp because your seeing the claw...This is one of the main differences between a pistol and mantis. A pistol walks around with the larger of teh two claws out in front of it, where are the mantis always has its appendages retracted up to its body..The eyes are another give away sign too....A pistol's eyes are retracted on the body, where as a mantis, are stalked eyes....

So, based on what you have said, i would say pistol.

[rxdoc_85]

:iagree:

[HiepNotik]

having a pistol shrimp bad? will it harm other inverts like my crab or snail? maybe thats why my peppermint shrimp all of a sudden died?

[Reefscape]

Personaly, i've not had any problems with them, but its always well fed..Same as any inhabitant, there is no saying one is going to act the same as the next in line...that goes for hermits, fish or whichever...

[journey0820]

That clicking clicking just drives me crazy!

[got2envy]

I have a pistol (billy lol)in my tank that i put in on purpose for my yellow watchman goby hoping that they would pair up..nothing yet and since i made the move to the 75g haven't heard or seen him..i know he is in the tank cause i sifted thru the sand in the old tank when it was empty and he was not there..i am hoping he made the move okay
:(
I have never had a problem with it..if it was in my bedroom that would be another story haha

[FeatherDuster]

Sounds like a pistol shrimp. It should be fine to leave him in there as long as he isn't a species that gets too large. The larger species can go after other shrimp or fish. You could always get a trap to take a look at him and post a picture to decide if he is a safe species.

I have never had a problem with it..if it was in my bedroom that would be another story haha

lol I actually have my 10G with the pistol shrimp right by my bedside. He hasn't been annoying. I will sometimes hear a couple of snaps in a row and then silence for the next 7-8 hours.

[HiepNotik]

so how would I trap him? the snapping is fine by me, but what I really want is to see him, I mean all I have seen is the whiskers, and claw. So is the trap something I can make?

[Reefscape]

I would not purposly trap an inhabitant just to be able to see it....but, thats just me...I dont think the added stress to the invert is worth it....

[ohbly]

I love my pistol shrimps they have great character
I feed mine with a bamboo scewer, sometimes they hang on to it and I can lift them right out of the water..
could you try the same?

[HiepNotik]

good idea, if he's in his tunnel will he sense the smell of the food and come out? and what kind of food should I feed it? I mean I don't think my NLS will make him come out. lol

[FeatherDuster]

I would not purposly trap an inhabitant just to be able to see it....but, thats just me...I dont think the added stress to the invert is worth it....

I am thinking in terms of a possible threat. If they can manage to correctly and confidently identify it without any stress, thats great and the way to go. But if not, I would try as best as I can to identify it. We see all too often silent hitchhiker killers in the tank that aren't noticed until there are deaths. I would like to protect the habitants that I intentionally put in the tank.

[FeatherDuster]

As for a suggestion on trying to see him. If food doesn't work you could try to mess a bit with his entrance. Push a tiny bit of sand out of the way and see if he will try to correct your "mistake".

[HiepNotik]

actually that's what I've been doing, but then he doesn't do anything until I go to bed then I wake up in the morning and the holes are back to normal. Maybe I can tie a piece of shrimp to a piece of string and lure him out. If that does not work then I can just lift the rock up and see. LOL I only have 2 piece of rock on there.

[Sarra]

Get something to sit on and sit in front of the tank and watch for a while. Be still and patient. you should see him or her come all the way out of the hole once or twice, and get a good ID.

If the shrimp is small, then I would suggest leaving it alone. I doubt that the pistol shrimp can damage the glass of the tank, nor would it be harming th eother inhabitants of your tank, except for hermits that are stupid and venture into the tunnels the shrimp has made.

As for the snapping sound it makes, well... My tanks are next to my bed, and I have no problem sleeping with the pistol snapping all night long. Mine's also pretty small still.

One reason mine snaps all night long is the bristle worms invading my tank, and the shrimp's dwelling.