Have a mantis in my reef:(

[kdblove_99]

Ok This is wierd. I have never seen himn before and i have had this same LR since i got in the hobby over 2 yrs ago.

Well todasy i saw something darting around was thinking thats wierd then did it again a little while ago went over and looked and saw him on a rock.

Small guy maybe an inch and looked very dark blue. I couldnt seen anything else except the dark blue.

Only 2 i can think it could be in a Viridis or a ciliata.

Should i take tank apart and get him out ?

 

[justinl]

Color is a very unreliable way to ID a mantis. Probably wasn't P. ciliata because spearers just aren't seen hitching in this hobby. Could have been any number of small smashers though. Mantids are very accomplished hiders and a small guy can go undetected in a tank for years.

as for yours in particular, I would not worry about it. A mantis that small might take out your smallest snails and hermits once in a while but cannot physically do any real damage. Certainly not worth tearing down the tank to find it (which is not a fail-proof method anyways).

did you get a clear enough view of it to be sure it was a mantis? there are a lot of people that scream MANTIS! whenever they see anything in their tank twitch, but dont actually know what one really looks like.

 

[kdblove_99]

Yeah, It was for sure a Mantis. I love Mantis shrimp. Matter of fact i just sold my 5" Peacock. It was one i have not seen before. It was dark blue all over.

 

[tush]

sounds like the one i have in my reef - when i first saw him he was about an inch - now he is about 2.5 inches- he has been there for over 2 years and has been harmless other than once in a while taking out a CuC member. he has also gotten to the point of begging when i feed the smooshy food... he sits on top his rock and waits his turn
FWIW - i have been trying to get him out for over a month with traps and such, but no luck ( i have a tank all cycled and ready for him) - i am almost to the point of letting him stay in there - he seems to like it there -