How do I trap a mantis?

JAL2

New member
I have a medium sized (about 1.75 inches long) mantis shrimp in my 90 gallon reef tank. He came in as a hitchhiker on the live rock when I set up the tank about 2 years ago. I think that he is a smasher type - I don't really know since I have never seen one of these guys before; I'm guessing. I do hear clicking in the tank and he does come out occasionally even when the lights are on. He is rather dull looking to be honest - kind of a purple/brown. Since he has really started to put a dent in my clean-up crew - particularly the small hermits - I have considered evicting him from his home.

Any tips on how to extricate him? I have read that folks will find the rock it lives in, pull the rock out of the tank, and flush it out, but I think that it lives under my live rock (in the sand?). I really don't want to break down the entire tank to get this guy out. Any suggestions? I doubt that I will be able to net it out or to pull him out by hand as he is very fast when he notices motion in the area. I think I need a trap of some sort.

The person posting the winning suggestion gets a free mantis (if you want it)! If anybody wants it (and I actually do catch it) they can have it for shipping costs.

Thanks for your help,
Jeff
 
Not sure about trapping him, but from what i have read, you DEFINITELY DO NOT want to try and take him out by hand!
 
Blueboard methods

I recommend method B as it is the safest (for both parties) and the cheapest as well. Use it during the daylight (evening) and have a piece of string tied into/through the edge of the plastic to yank it out once he goes for it.

:D
 
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