heard first popping noise last night

[libmo]

I heard a popping noise last night. I watched the rock it appeared to be coming from for a while. I saw a small, less than 1 inch long shrimp. I saw it making motions that coincided with the popping but couldn't see well enough to tell if it was a pistol or mantis shrimp. It makes at least 2 to 4 pops each time it popped.

 

[Bax]

If it has a big, and I mean big, noticble claw, it's a pistol.

Two big eyes with no big claw, it's a mantis.

Have fun.

 

[boyooso]

The first time I saw a mantis shrimp, he(it) was making a motion and then a little pop noise.... It looked like he was flicking his finger(hammer) against something (oyster).

I have never seen my pistol make his noise.

 

[DCDeacon]

If it looked kinda like a centipede, it's a mantis. If it looks like a shrimp (white/clear in color) it's a pistol.

 

[libmo]

It was in the shadows under a rock. By the time I noticed the movement it moved to where I couldn't see it at all. I picked up the rock I thought it was under last night, but couldn't see anything. I thought about taking the whole rock and putting it in another container for a while. Hoping he would come out of the rock.

Thanks for the help. I will keep hunting.

 

[libmo]

It came out of it's hole completely for the first time, while I was watching. It definitely looked like a brownish centipede. So I guess this means it is a mantis. I put the whole rock he was in in another tub of water. I'll keep checking to see if he comes out again and take the rock away if he does.

 

[Slatts]

Use the seltzer into the hole trick or as its also known "Splach Maneuver". He may never leave the rock even if he comes out. He will just go to another hole.

 

[skippy2]

Where did your rock come from? I have something in my tank to. Posted a thread last nite and consensus says probably a mantis. I have figi rock and my tank has been up since Aug. of '02. I have only seen this whatever it is on and off for the last couple of months. I would think I would have seen or heard a mantis before now.

 

[libmo]

I got it from Tampa Bay Saltwater.
Still no luck catching the mantis. I have the DIY bottle in with shrimp in it. Don't have any seltzer water, all I have in the house is Pepsi.

 

[Slatts]

I've tried several times with the bottle, never any luck. Saw one in a rock, pulled it, shot seltzer in the holes and it popped out. Still have a least two to go. It's just part of the adventure. Happy hunting.

 

[DCDeacon]

limbo, definitely time to go to the grocery store and get some seltzer water. The Splach trick works like a charm. I'm pulling some rock this weekend to try and find my inhabitant.

 

[MsReefer]

I too will be pulling my 10 day old TBS rock this weekend to rid the two mantis shrimp that I've seen. The coke bottle/shrimp trap was not a success. I will try the seltzer water trick at this point. I await my second shipment, however TBS says more than likely additional Mantis hitchikers are probable. Good Luck to you too.

 

[libmo]

The Splach maneuver

The Splach maneuver

Finally got to the store to get some seltzer water. After about 10 shots of seltzer water. I might not have been shooting the right hole at first. Or it might have been quite large inside. But any way he came out. I took the rock and put it back in the aquarium and put the 3/4" mantis in a 2 1/2 gallon aquarium.

Thanks Slatts and DCDeacon for the suggestion. And thanks Splach!