I suspect I have a mantis, but before I use a trap...

csammis

Mental Institution
...I have a couple of questions :)

First, I'd like to get opinions on whether or not it would be worthwhile trying to catch something, if there is anything present. So far I've had a couple peppermint shrimp and a zebra goby ( :mad2: ) disappear, both without any trace whatsoever. I figured the goby had jumped, but no matter how hard I looked, I could never find a body. It was one of a pair, and the other refuses to come out of its burrow except to eat. Nothing's been attempting to beat it up, so I don't know why it's behaving that way. This was a few months ago, and I haven't lost anything since (perhaps a couple of blue-legged hermit craps, I have quite a few and I never took a headcount, but it seems like there are less).

Second, let's assume that I do have something to catch. I'm leaning towards using a trap like this one, but I have some questions about its seemingly-simple operation. One, would there be any way to stop a thin fish (like a zebra goby) from going in and getting the bait? Two, how would people recommend getting the trapped critter out without harming it? If it is a mantis, I want to keep it and start a mantis tank :D

Third, any other suggestions for a trap? I've searched for "mantis trap" and gotten everything from a simple live-catch plastic mousetrap-looking thing, to a jar with a plastic lid with an X cut in it. I've heard mantis' are fairly smart, so I'd rather catch it with an effective trap the first time.

Thanks!
 
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