Any tips on finding the bad guys?

[Dvd]

I am finally going to set a tank up with TBS rock (as soon as I can find a free weekend day to arrange a trip to the airport). Does anyone know any good tricks to find mantis shrimp and gorilla crabs on the rocks before putting them in the tank? I have been reading this forum off and on for a good while and I seem to remember someone saying they squirted fresh water into the holes of the rock to flush things out. Is that a good idea?

And one other question, I do have the long gloves that make you look like you are gonna birth a cow but do those really do any good against a mantis shrimp? I mean if you grab a rock with one inside and it thwacks you, it is made to crush or spear crab and snail shells, do those gloves really protect you? Has anyone ever been hit by a mantis shrimp?

Thanks for putting up with newbie questions!

David

 

[scowiii]

You can use a high salinty dip in buckets or my favorite method Seltzer water and a turkey baster. Just remember you might get most of them but there will always be a couple that may elude ya.

 

[PaulCom]

The gloves are more for preventing scrapes against the rock itself or touching something on the rock that may not agree with ya...

As far as getting whacked by a mantis - during the transfer they will probably be so far down in a hole and willing to stay there until things calm down.

 

[Untamed12]

Consider leaving the mantis in the tank. They are small guys that can't do much damage besides taking a crab or hermit crab every now and again. They are interesting critters and you might enjoy having them in the tank.

 

[pkpthrillho]

I managed to get rid of 5 but even that was hard. Try luring them out with some shrimp (stick it in one of the holes) and see where they come out. Then try to get them out far enough where you can nab them somehow. I'm not afraid to catch the bastards with a pair of tweezers.

 

[Dvd]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not really worried about mantis shrimps, although I did make the mistake of showing my wife some articles on them so now she is terrified! I do however like porcelain and decorator crabs and I assume they would be the first snacks of any mantis shrimp in the tank. I just want to try to catch any gorilla crabs or mantis shrimps I can before they get in.

I just wonder if the reality of being struck by a mantis is as bad as some of the horror stories you read on the internet.

And you say you caught 5, how many pounds of rock did you get to have that many?

David