Mantis Lifespan

[AzMandella]

I have a small mantis in my reeftank that I can't get out. So how long do they live? He has been in there since March of 05. Hoping he will just die soon. He doesn't bother the fish but kills snails and hermits. He is small 2-1/2" long light tan/brown color.

 

[justinl]

unless you get a decent pic we cant ID the species. and unless we know the species we can't estimate how long it will live... and even then it's iffy to estimate age anyways.

if you want to try to remove it...
http://www.stomatopod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71

 

[AzMandella]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11804084#post11804084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinl
unless you get a decent pic we cant ID the species. and unless we know the species we can't estimate how long it will live... and even then it's iffy to estimate age anyways.

if you want to try to remove it...
http://www.stomatopod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71

Based on Roys list and not being an expert it looks like a Noegonodactylus Bredini or a Gonodactylaceus falcatus.

 

[BALISTIK]

why would you want the mantis to die? thats not cool. Especially since you've had him for so long. If i were you i would embrace the glory that is the mantis shrimp. If you really dont want to then just remove the mantis and give it to your lfs.

 

[AzMandella]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11804324#post11804324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BALISTIK
why would you want the mantis to die? thats not cool. Especially since you've had him for so long. If i were you i would embrace the glory that is the mantis shrimp. If you really dont want to then just remove the mantis and give it to your lfs.

I'm sorry but I have tryed the bottle trap and the Exterminator trap and have not been able to get him out of my reef tank. I cannot tell which rock he is living in and do not want to tear apart my whole trank. He has eaten numberous dollars worth of snails,hermits,and emerald crabs. If I were to catch him I would not kill him. I'd offer him up to anyone here or my LFS. But since that is not the case I will just have to wait for him to die. I'm tired of feeding him $2.00 snails and $7.00 emerald crabs.

 

[Pea-brain]

Gonodactylids and neogonodactylids tend to live about 4-7 years. Yours will likely be with you for a long time.

Dan