pistol's snap vs. mantis snap?

[Caesar Gdi]

this weekend I picked up my LR from www.tampabaysaltwater.com/. I know I have a shrimp hitchhiker because I can hear his snap but I'm not sure if its a pistol or mantis. I have had a pistol shrimp before and it sounds a lot like that and it is very faint. I thought that a mantis would be very loud, is this true? is there any difference between the two?

[betamed]

The two shrimps are quite different. Might want to set up some sort of trap in case it is a mantis.

[bosscrab]

Chances are slim you got a pistol as a hitchhicker. I would try to find the rock that is making noise and QT that rock. JMO

[Loverotties]

Just watch you do put your fingers in there!

[Caesar Gdi]

Originally Posted by bosscrab

Chances are slim you got a pistol as a hitchhicker. I would try to find the rock that is making noise and QT that rock. JMO

I don't know about that. I was thinking the same thing but with all of the other hitchhikers I have gotten from this rock the chances are looking better.

If I do have a mantis it must be small the snap is very faint

[beach bum]

Considering your source it is probably a mantis, people I know have pulled 3 or 4 from even a small batch of Tampa Bay stuff.

Also, the smaller the mantis the smaller the 'snap', and the hitchikers from the gulf there are a smaller type (neogonodactylus wennerae).


good luck getting it out, whatever it is.

[Ranran]

Mantis shrimp dont snap per say they do thump there pray with bullet like shots from there front arms and that can make a sound when it hits something but it only makes a sound if it hits something. I would bet if you are hearing routine snaps through the day you got a pistol shrimp. they can make the noise by just ckicking there claw together.

[Caesar Gdi]

I guess I will not know for sure until I trap him... would a pistol fall for the same trap as a mantis?

[ChrisPrusha]

Originally Posted by Caesar Gdi

I guess I will not know for sure until I trap him... would a pistol fall for the same trap as a mantis?

I think so. I have a tiger pistol in each of my tanks. I love 'em. When they snap though, it is LOUD!

[bosscrab]

If you think you know about where he might be. Try putting some food by that hole to try to get a look.

[Caesar Gdi]

Its a mantis... I saw it when I got home today. Then I took 5 pics, but only one came out good. I also found out what the snapping is. The mantis is scraping something off of the rock... I watched him do it a few times, so I guess I don't have a pistol.

[bosscrab]

I have heard of people suspending the rock over a bucket of water and wait for the shrimp to hop out looking for some and splash into the bucket.
Another option is to cut the neck off of a 2 liter turn it around so the neck fits in the bottle then bait the inside. He will crawl in looking for food and get stuck. Take to LFS for a credit. just a few ideas.

[Caesar Gdi]

Yeah I think I am going to try the 2 liter bottle trick... He is kinda cool tho, I would keep him if I was sure that he wouldnt kill something that I paid for.