I've recently discovered a Manits in my tank, must have been in the rock I purchased. He appears to be about 2 inches long. I have about 70 lbs of LR and really don't want to tear my tank apart to get him out. What is the best way to get him out of the tank without taking all the rock out?
How to Catch a Mantis
- Thread starter jacoop
- Start date
bkwudzjeep
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I'm sorry to tell you that I had to hunt him down and find the rock he was hiding in. Then I took the rock out and noticed the hole that he hid in went straight through the rock, so I took a bamboo skewer and pushed him out the other side into a critter keeper.
I later put the critter keeper into the tank so he'd live and gave him to another reefer. (mantis are pretty neat to watch)
For the other, I actually broke the rock open and found a tunnel system with a trap door hiding spot masked to look like the rock!! They are very smart!!
I have heard of lots of people trying the exterminator trap (brand name) with no success. I would have tried, but I paid for it and it never came in the mail.
Some others have tried a pop bottle and cut the top off. Then they take the part they took off and stuck it back in the bottom half inverted so when the mantis swims to catch any bait, the can't find their way out. (Honestly, I think they are smart enough to find out after a while) I have heard more success with this method than with any other of the "trap" methods.
Good luck and....
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
I later put the critter keeper into the tank so he'd live and gave him to another reefer. (mantis are pretty neat to watch)
For the other, I actually broke the rock open and found a tunnel system with a trap door hiding spot masked to look like the rock!! They are very smart!!
I have heard of lots of people trying the exterminator trap (brand name) with no success. I would have tried, but I paid for it and it never came in the mail.
Some others have tried a pop bottle and cut the top off. Then they take the part they took off and stuck it back in the bottom half inverted so when the mantis swims to catch any bait, the can't find their way out. (Honestly, I think they are smart enough to find out after a while) I have heard more success with this method than with any other of the "trap" methods.
Good luck and....
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
I kind of agree, but my mantis was more than a match for the simple half-bottle crab-type traps. The fact that they can swim to some extent means they can get out after a bit, so if you aren't actively watching the trap it is unlikely to happen. Mine certainly tended to bolt for home when threatened, so if he is in a specific rock (which you should be able to identify if you watch him for a while), it is generally easiest to remove and isolate the rock when he is in it.
Dave
Dave
All thanks for all the assistance... I've managed to find the rock he lives in, but unfortunately is one of my base rocks which means I have to tear the whole tank apart. I try the pop bottle trap for a week, he would look at the bait, but he is too smart to go for it.
The last few days he as been pretty quiet and hasn't messed with my fish (seen him eat a couple hermit crabs). So I guess I have to wait him out and see if I can caught him off guard.
Thanks For All The Help...
The last few days he as been pretty quiet and hasn't messed with my fish (seen him eat a couple hermit crabs). So I guess I have to wait him out and see if I can caught him off guard.
Thanks For All The Help...
