I have several Mantis questions

[Mish]

OK, I'm trying to catch what I think is a mantis. I need info so I can get this guy. I don't want to kill it, just remove it. I promise.

1. How long can they go with out food? Will they eat small things in the live rock to survive?

2. Can they survive a curing process of a few weeks with ammonia @ 8ppm?

3. How do I get it to trust me? First trust then trap. : ) Rules of engagement

4. Do they roam for food? Do I have more than one? I find dead crabs on oppisite sides of the tank.

5. Will soda water kill other things on the live rock?

6. What does there poo look like? I feel like I'm tracking a bear.

Any info on how to locate it's home woudl be great. I think I saw a molt the other day, so I'm starting on that side of the tank. I didn't pull it out, to look at it better because I just thought, "oh look a shirmp molt, how cool"

Knowledge is priceless.

 

[Hutton]

ammonia probably killed the little guy already...

 

[Mish]

I wish... He is in my tank, and hungry, he has eaten two fish, and several hermit crabs. I just can't figure out how he survived, and why he is terrorizing my tank all of the sudden. I could be wrong, and it's not a Mantis, just a stroke of bad luck, but the signs say other wise.

If it is a mantis, I'm not sure which batch of rock he came in on, but either way I don't know how he survived. 6 months no food, or lots-o- ammonia.

 

[Hutton]

i have never heard of a mantis surviving in those conditions.

 

[Uriel]

I read a post by a guy whose roomate moved, leaving an old 50 gallon in the garage, still full of water and with a pump running: It had been a mantis tank.
The poster was cleaning and when he went to start dipping the water out, there was movement (picture the garbage monster in Star Wars) in the otherwise murky and scum filled tank.
Seems that the mantis had been living on the pods that were still breeding and doing fine, though macroalgae had taken over the tank. I'm not sure about ecap and all, but it was a prety cool story nonetheless.

They can survive some amazing extremes.


-Ron