mantis in tank?

[john1105]

So it had been a couple of weeks since my tank has cycled and I decided it was time to start adding some critters to keep the tank clean. I went out and got some hermits, snails, a couple of emerald crabs, and two peppermint shrimp. I acclimated everything and they went in the tanks. Everything thing was doing great, including the peppermint shrimp. But I soon noticed a clicking noise coming from the the tank, mainly at night, but sometimes during the day as well. I wrote it off at first because I had never heard it before in the weeks before I added any livestock to the tank. I figured no way it would be a mantis shrimp, I would have heard it earlier. Unfortunately I dont think that is the case anymore. Although, I have yet to see any broken snail or hermit crab shells, I did find the remains of one of my peppermint shrimp last night. It was litterally torn apart. This and the rapid clicking noise has pretty much confirmed it for me. Now my question is how do I go about finding the guy and getting him out? I have no idea which rock it hides in. I did read about fashioning a trap out of a bottle. Has anyone had a positive experience with the bottle trap? Any help at all would be most appreciated.

 

[john1105]

I did a count on my snails, and they are all still alive. I have not seen any broken shells from any hermits either. Is it likely a mantis would go after a peppermint shrimp when it has many other easier prey nearby? (i.e. snails)

 

[black_majik]

Hermit crabs hit the glass a lot with their shells and it creates a tapping noise. I was always hearing the noise until I saw teh hermit doing a handstand and falling on the glass. The shrimp probably died and was ripped apart by scavengers

 

[BodiBuilt]

Could possibly be a "spearer" which prey on small fish and (shrimp)... they would leave your snails and crabs alone.

 

[Pea-brain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11963212#post11963212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BodiBuilt
Could possibly be a "spearer" which prey on small fish and (shrimp)... they would leave your snails and crabs alone.

But these are next to unheard of. In extremely rare cases Pseudosquilla or Raulserenae may do it, but it is extremely rare. Not to mention they wouldnt make clicking noises.

Dan

 

[tracey1]

it might also be a pistol shrimp.
i have one in my tank that came as a hitchhiker & 1 cleaner & 2 peppermints have died.
i hear some very loud clicks in my tank & i know the pistol is still only about 1.5" if that.

 

[jasonak]

I have a pistolo shrimp in my tank,but i was told hes reef safe.Ive had my tank up about 2 years,i did add some live rock back in decmber and just noticed clickng the other day,,but it didnt sound like it was coming from the pistol as he was in one part of the tank and the clciking was coming from another.Ive lost all my pocelain crabs my hermit populatin looks very low as well.I put 50 in at the begining and now id say theres about a dozen.Im not sure how long blue legs live though.Anyways last night i nitced that there were chunks of white stuff floating around and that one of my cleaners was gone.So im thinking i might have a mantis.Unless these pitols arent reef safe??

 

[wildcatt]

I have allways been told that reef safe means they don't eat coral