Since I started my tank 6 weeks ago, I've always heard a clicking sound during the day and just after lights out. At first I was afraid it was a mantis, but now believe that it's a pistol shrimp of some kind.

A week or so ago, I was a the house of the reefer I received my first few pieces of LR from. She had found (I have no idea where) two brown pistol shrimps about 1 inch long. I have seen no evidence of them in my tank except for two instances:

1. One day, I just saw it snap at a blue legged hermit through a gap in the rock. I think the 'claw' that I saw would have placed it around the same size as the ones she had found (yes, it's very solid evidence, I know).

2. Recently I saw a small shrimp tail moulting that could not have belonged to my cleaner or peppermint shrimp, as it was about .5 inches long and 1/8 wide.

I'm fairly certain I have one, but I have never seen it completely, and I do not know where it is. I have tried a few times to do a FW dip to get it out (keeping rock in FW for a few minutes), to no avail. Is there some way I can rig up a trap for it, or will that be ineffective in catching it?

it prob. wont stray far from its burrow or hole. nothing you have turned up dead yet tho has it?

Not that I know of. I had 4 small electric blue leg hermits, but it's hard to say if they're missing or not.

Actually, I looked just now and see two. So they're probably still kicking around.

I'd just like it out, in case it does get bigger and decides to eat something besides pods or whatnot.

Hello (fellow toronto reefer!),
I've the same situation going on, only i gave up (so far) trying to get them...
I have 2 (inche sized) pistol shrimp, which initially i heard as sounds, and then found a molt, and have now seen them multiple times. a good way to see them (in my experience) is when you feed. i feed mysis and i will see them come out for the frenzy, but i have to be really still as they can sense any movement and hide rather quickly.
i tried to take out rock and flush them out, that didn't work. and i've tried to bait them out, but my other critters go after the food anyway.
i know this doesn't help you much other than letting you know you're not alone and i feel your frustration.. haha.. (on the bright side, they don't click much anymore so i can sleep soundly)

Ahoy hoy fellow To'er

Yeah, I've just about given up, but giving it one last shot in the dark. I don't see it come out when I feed, probably because the cleaner and peppermint shrimp go nuts when I feed so much so that I have to bat them away from the LPS so they don't steal the Dendro's food.

I've been hearing a clicking for 6 months+ now and still haven't even seen a single glimpse of what it is in my tank. I'm assuming that it is indeed a small pistol because i figure a mantis would have most likely killed something in my tank especially my cleaner shrimp.

Pretty much my thought too. I'd also like the bugger out.

why do you want him out specifically? pistol shrimps are good at stirring up the sand bed and theyre good cleaners too

Agree with HLIC. Pistols won't hurt anything, esp. small ones.

Figure out what type it is and then get an appropriate goby to pair up with it. Then you will see more of the shrimp. I got a yellow watchman goby and tiger pistol shrimp combo at the LFS and they are cool to watch. Most of the time they hang out in the den under some rock. The YWG usually pokes his head out and scans for danger. The tiger will come out for food and to clean/arrange the den. He always remains in contact with the YWG.

I have a YWG and he hasn't paired with whatever is clicking in my tank. I think my concern is what is actually making the clicking. If I saw him and identified him it would at least bring me some peace of mind and if I thought he was getting big enough to eat a fish or something I could try to trap him.

Pretty much what I'm thinking too. If I add a shrimp goby, it's probably not going to pair up. Besides, I think these live in the rock, as the reefer I got them from also found them when she broke rock open. I'd just like to see/catch them as peace of mind for the other inhabitants.

I've had an unidentified clicking in my tank for a year now. I believe it is coming from the rubble rock in my fuge.

I just caught the one I've been hearing for the past 6 months, I wasn't sure if it was a mantis or a pistol shrimp either. I found what rock the sound was coming from and got out the good old chisel and hammer. This is what I found, a little pistol shrimp. He's only about 1/4 of an inch at most, but the snapping was REALLY loud. I couldn't believe how small he was.






Anyone know what kind it is?

Some sort of pistol, not sure of the species.

Hmmm, old topic, but they're still in my tank.

Levi, dunno if you're still around, but I think those are similar to the ones that are in my tank - were they bored into the rock?

Mine definitely live in the rock - the only pic I have is this one, where you can see the bluish claw with white tips, much like yours:



Sorry for the blurry pic, but you can see the white tips and outline of the bigger claw.


Sooooo, how do I trap a rock dwelling pistol shrimp??

I caught this pistol shrimp in my tank a few weeks ago...



I let him go in the hopes that he does not do any damage.