Mantis in the house

[quarryshark]

Well, though I was in the clear. its been 2 months since I added the last batch of rock...thought wrong.
Was walking by my tank tonight and something caught my eye in the sand. So I stop and carefully took a closer look. Yup, a 1" Mantis Shrimp. He didn't appear to notice me at first (the room lights were off) so I was able to get a good look. As soon as he did see me he was gone in a flash.
Been hearing intermittent clicking sound, thought it was my pistol shrimp....guess not.
Gotta get him out while He's small and I don't know where he resided yet. Do those mantis traps really work?
Too bad, would love to keep him in there, he is a very pretty redish color. Anyone know what kind that would be?
Once caught (if I can) anyone want him? If not, I'll either put him in the sump or take him to my LFS. Even considering setting up one of my 10 gallon tanks for him, but the wife does not like that idea much.
Only casualty so far that I have seen was a pulverized hitchiker crab I fould the other day. But I am worried about my Peppermints, they are pretty small.
Gonna place some bait in a corner tonight after lights out to see if he'll come up to the front. Maybe I can net him then. Any other ideas?

 

[scotia-reefer]

I'll take him if you catch him. Let me know lucianojr@earthlink.net when your ready to send him off.

Thanks

 

[Limbo]

Re: Mantis in the house

Even considering setting up one of my 10 gallon tanks for him, but the wife does not like that idea much.

I got a 12G JBJ Nano for my hitchhicker mantis. I tricked the wife by asking her to name it....... then saying, "well it can't stay in there, I'll have to kill it or maybe the LFS will take it, doubt it though.... probably have to kill it....... spear it in its hole" :lol:

Gotta say, the cube is really nice. Sits on our breakfast bar and the wife loves it. Just transplanted the rock he setup home in. Much easier then trying to catch.

Just a shame we never see the mantis We only get to see his head when we feed him.

Oh and it got named Norman........... Norman Bates

 

[crafty_50mitchell]

Limbo, just speaking from personal experience but if you set up your aquascaping so that you have a couple shelves (which provide some shading) you might see your mantis more. This worked with my G.chiragra (not sure if you have a smasher or a spearer)...well that and time for the mantis to get not only acclimated with the tank but also with the people...and in your case the feline as well
Cheers,
Brian

 

[MantisDude]

dude, that's not a mantis shrimp.... it's a CAT



sorry, just had to!

 

[theseeker]

I had one in my tank for 2 months and I watched him eat alot of my cleaners. The Mantis is like the Alien, he is very, very smart and he has no fear. We finally caught him this week! It is a difficult task to catch this monster. First you have to watch him closely, sooner or later he will find a home. Unfortunately his home will be a rock on the bottom of the tank. Fortunately for me he finally chose a rock in the corner of the tank which did not support other rocks. He dilligently filled all the holes in the rock with his victims shells. Once he had only one escape route we lifted the rock from the tank and put it in a five gallon bucket. We probed the holes with wooden skewer and alas he jumped out. My first thoughts were to BBQ him, but I saved him for someone who wanted one. That was very difficult thing to do, as he has killed three fish and countless cleaners. Such is the life of a reefer.

 

[quarryshark]

Been setting a trap every night. SO far I have caught a emerald crab and 3 snails.
He hasn't settled on a home yet, I have seen him in 3 or 4 different places.
I'll keep trying.