how to remove a mantis? Please help

chrali

chrali

New member
i just turnend on my lights this morning and notice what apeared to be a mantis shrimp creeping back into the rock. i only saw the legs but i'm pretty sure its a mantis. i would really like to get him out before i have any real problems. he is in a very accessable rock that i can remove from the tank very easy. once i get it out how do i ferret the mantis out. thanks!
 
You can try the bottle trap like posted some links down or you can pour soda water over the rock and it will run out. What I do to get unwanted things out is I dip the rock in freshwater but if there are things on the rock you want to keep then this is a bad idea. Please try not to kill the Mantis there are plenty of people here and in SC who would take him off your hands. If you would like to part with the rock just leave it and someone might give you an offer.

here is the trap link TRAP
 
I will try the soda water. if it does end up being a mantis i will do my best to keep him alive and post a little later to see if someone wants him.
 
take the rock out if you can, though be aware that they can have quite an intricate network of burrows through and under your rocks. If you take it out, do it when you see it in there like you did this morning.

Once it is out your options are to break it open, use fresh water dip, use hypersaline water dip, gently poke a stick (not sharp!) into his hole until he squirts out (make sure he has room to escape and doesn't just get squished), or just put it into another tank and feed it every few days...my preferred option!! :)
 
my main concern is to get him out of the tank and preserve the rock. it is my favorite rock. i would like to get it out without harming it. i was hoping the soda water method would do this if anyone has a better more specific way please let me know.
Thanks!

Brian, i have no clue how to ship any type of live stock.
 
jchough,

Thanks for the trap link. i might try putting the rock in a 10 gallong tank and use the trap.
 
i noticed a mantis shrimp a couple months ago. it's weird cause some people say that it is hard to capture but i got him without even moving anything or traps i got him in a net. He was about 3 inches long and was green. i eventually sold him to my local LFS. good luck with getting the mantis
 
Just an idea, could you take the rock out and suspend it 6" or more from the bottom of the tank or bucket. Then add a snail or some raw shrimp to the bottom and wait for it to come out and feed? Or can these guys swim back up to the rock?
 
Never thought of that one, if you can keep your other critters out of the bucket it might work I doubtit will get out cause it won't scale the plastic. I want my mantis in the rocks so I can't run a trial and error on this :P
 
i live about 3 hours from you chrali. Let me know if you get it out i will take it off of your hands
 
I am pretty sure I have a mantis because I hear occasional clicking and three of my fish are GONE !!! Anthias and two purple firefish :(

One problem ..... I don't know where he is. Will the bottle trick with a scallop of shrimp work in my case?

Thanks for your help!
 
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