Mantis shrimp anyone?

[selgado]

While fragging some stuff in my tank, I had a close encounter with this little bugger:

I felt him squirm beneath my finger and like a little sissy boy, I instinctively dropped the rock in a bucket of water. Out came the mantis, darting all over the place. Those little critters are fast! I'm really surprised I didn't get bitten.

jenghes and weimers75 I almost got my finger taken off, but your frags are ready.

Anyone want the mantis before he hits the blender?

 

[skippysmind]

you are lucky to have escaped with your life.

 

[Dubbin1]

Hey John I may take that little guy if you don't want it.

 

[selgado]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6991687#post6991687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skippysmind
you are lucky to have escaped with your life.

You have no idea.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6992156#post6992156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
Hey John I may take that little guy if you don't want it.

He's all yours.

 

[jenghes]

I am relatively sure that I have one too.

 

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6992278#post6992278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by selgado
He's all yours.

Cool Just let me know when I need to pick it up.

 

[selgado]

You've got PM.

Out of curiosity what do you plan to do with him?

 

[Go Hooter Go]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6992278#post6992278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by selgado
You have no idea.



He's all yours.

Whats the big deal? I looked them up and saw they are more or less a predatory Shrimp.... Known mostly as a pest and can get up to 12" Big depending on kind of Mantis Shrimp.....

Most of them arrive from Freeloaders and burrow into the sand?

 

[selgado]

I couldn't keep much in the way of snails and small fish and I think he has a lot to do with it. I've lost a few firefish that all slept in a burrow in the sand under the live rock, which is near where I found this guy.

I wouldn't even want to think about a 12" one :eek2:

Check out this video.

 

[jenghes]

I can't keep small fish either. I have also lost firefish and mandarines. I seem to lose shrimp too. I have so many snails, that I don't notice them missing.

 

[weimers75]

They're mean little guys. They're known as "thumb splitters" because their claws are so powerful. They have been known to shatter glass with an appendage on their claws. Not something you want in a reef tank for sure!

 

[jenghes]

BTW - John. I am soooooo jealous of you for catching your Manty. I really wish I could get mine. Do you have any more clicking? Hopefully it is your only one Every time I catch one and then I hear the click again, my heart sinks.

 

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6994979#post6994979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by selgado
Out of curiosity what do you plan to do with him?

I plan to hug him and kiss him and call him George.

 

[sdsheeks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6996253#post6996253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
I plan to hug him and kiss him and call him George.

I would like to see this.

Dave

 

[selgado]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6995992#post6995992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jenghes
BTW - John. I am soooooo jealous of you for catching your Manty. I really wish I could get mine. Do you have any more clicking? Hopefully it is your only one Every time I catch one and then I hear the click again, my heart sinks.

I caught him out of pure luck. I picked up the zoa rock to frag it and there he was. Probably scared the poo-poo out of him too. I never had any clicking sounds, so I thought I didn't have any mantis. I'll throw some snails in there and see how they do.

 

[Spuds725]

THat thing looks like the critter that Khan put in CHekov's ear in Star Trek II (The Wrath of Khan)......

KHAAAAAAAAANNN!!!

 

[selgado]

Well I suppose if no one wants their frags, I could offer them up to the general public...

 

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6998354#post6998354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by selgado
Well I suppose if no one wants their frags, I can offer them up to the general public...

Ohhh Daddy likes

 

[selgado]

Down boy, Daddy already has.

Then again, Daddy may have some more

If I don't get my birdnesteses!

Just kidding Jen and Weimers , no hurry.

 

[jenghes]

Is Tuesday evening OK to meet?