Can't catch this thing

[Princess Di]

I still have not been able to catch this mantis. I'm not sure what kind it is, but I have not seen any pictures that are close to the bright colors of this one. Picture does not do it justice. I have tried the handmade pvc trap and the waterbottle trick. I have used both shrimp and silversides and have caught nothing but shrimp and snails.
I just ordered 300 more crabs as I didn't have very many left. The bottom of my tank is littered with broken shells . I do not want to tear apart 450 lbs of live rock to catch this thing!!

 

[B Pierce]

That is a beautiful shimp!

Try to find the rock that he lives in; take that out and dip it in hyposalinty(1.035)It should then jump ship.

BTW if you are getting rid of it when you catch it I would be happy to take it off your hands

 

[Princess Di]

I have tried to remove pieces of rock that I think he is in and he darts on to the next as soon as I pick them up. This is a huge tank and I can't stand to even think about taking out all of the rock!

 

[MJI]

G Smithii I would say

 

[Princess Di]

MJI-
I think you are right with the g smithii. I checked out the adventures of tim and he looks a lot like tim, except mine is a lot brighter. No luck catching him yet.....he is toooo smart!

 

[graphixx22]

you live in oregon right???? if you do not want him let me know I live in Idaho I would love to have him I would pay shipping and even a little bit more just for the effort taken to catch him.

 

[speedsport]

I would also be interested.

 

[Princess Di]

Still no luck. Everyone says to have patience, but I just don't see any way of catching him unless I remove every piece of live rock!

 

[melk-man]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=600198
Here is my run in with a mantis shrimp.. Yes, it would suck having to take all the rock out. It can be done with a mantis shrimp trap, just need patience, even though it seems there is no hope. Silversides is the trick. Nothing else worked but i also had to get all my hermit crabs out with bottle traps with the mouth up on a rock (they just slide right in.. ) as they will set off the trap non stop..