in a bind here....

[saltyreefer88]

ok here we go helpin a female friend with a problem in her tank she ordered live rock 2 months ago and hey all of a sudden all her snails are gone... well knowin what it was i told her it wasn't the water lol that she had a shrimp... she liked the shrimp idea... till she saw it kill a snail and strut about the substrate showing off... well then she wants it out i buy and try a few traps and no luck... i try dipping the rocks in the fuge hoping to shake him out into it and catch him there no luck... i dont wanna do a fresh water dip and kill him cuz i dont wanna kill anything or him its not right plus i have someone more than willing to house him for good...


so i am turning to the experts help me out here...

 

[30mini]

What traps have you tried? We may have a few tricks to help you out... but you may end up having to just break the rock to get him out, or with luck, you can catch him with a net before he goes back into hiding

 

[rsteagall]

Get a 20oz coke bottle, cut the top off, invert it like a funnel going in, secure with rubber band, bait it, and submerge the bottle close to the burrow. Don't feed your tank until the mantis is caught. I've done this with my mantis 3 different times and she was caught all 3 times within a few hours.

If possible, you could do this in a QT tank with the rock its in only.

 

[DanInSD]

From what I've read, a short freshwater dip won't kill the mantis or most of the life on the rock. Just be ready with some saltwater and a net to transfer asap.

I've also heard good things about, of all things, seltzer water dips. Guess they don't like the bubbles!

Try the "coke trap" first, though. Less destructive.

Obvious question: what species? Pictures!!

 

[saltyreefer88]

well the coke bottle worked lol and to the spcies i dont know to be honest mantis' are not my favorite so i gladly gave him to aperson who absolutely loves them, its more humane then killin or QT

 

[rsteagall]

Can you take a picture? Depending on type and if you'll ship... I may want him. I'd like a g. smithii or o. scyllarus on my desk at work.

Where are you located?