Mantis Shrimp in tank ... is this bad ?

[Bathel]

I have discovered a 1.5" mantis shrimp in my tank. Nothings been added for a good bit so he has to have been in there a good long time.

Is this a bad thing?

I have several fish, a banded coral shrimp, a black urchin, pencil urchin, serpent star, a small crab and lots of mushrooms and other corals.

If i need to remove it, how do I go about doing that ... I've tried several searches ... however it seems that mantis shrimp are very popular and many have aquariums of just the mantis ...

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[bulldogfish]

Bathel

If you keep the mantis in your tank then you run the risk of losing some of your inverts and maybe even some fish. If you know where he is hideing at then you could remove that rock with him in it. But be very careful for 2 reasons .... 1. They are fast. I mean real fast. He could have a backdoor to the rock he's hiding in and escape before you can remove the rock. 2. Some Mantis have injured some aquarists while trying to remove the rock.

But in my opinion you will want him out.

HTH

 

[Bathel]

I know what rock he is in ... however, There is a back door. He uses both sides of the rock to pop out from. Also the rock is in the middle of my scape ... so i'd have to remove other rocks first ... which I'm assuming would aleart him.

I'll see what I can do. Once I remove the rock ... what is the proper proceedure to remove the shrimp? I've found on some searches suggestions of Freash Water dips. Thre are no mushrooms on the rock he is in so this might be an option. What do you recommend ?

 

[bulldogfish]

You could use a salt dip with SG of 1.030 this would surely force him out or the fresh water dip. Just remove the rocks that you need to, to get to his rock then wait for awhile. you might be able to use a net to assist you unless of course the piece of rock is huge.

Good Luck

 

[H2OLUVSME]

search this forum for variuos traps. there are some people who have good luck with traps and some who have no luck at all. also ive heard of squirting fresh or hot water into his hole to force him out. mayby you could get the net set up at the back door and force FW through the front to make him run into th net.

are you 100% sure its a mantis and not a pistol, ihear they come as hitchhikers on some rock pretty often.

BTW, what are you going to do with him when you catch him. id be willing to pay shipping if youd send him to me. ive been looking for N. wennerae, but would accept anything, at this point. that is if you are going to kill it.

LT

 

[Bathel]

If i can catch it ... i'll send him to you.

Yes ... I'm sure he is a smashing mantis ... not sure what kind but he is not too shy. He pokes his head out all the time.

I'll let you know if I catch him.

 

[H2OLUVSME]

thaks where did you get your rock from?

LT

 

[Trekkie]

I've got a brown one and a pink one. I've yet to find them longer than half a second though, they seem to be moving constantly.

I also have something that clipped a few of the legs off my brittle star fish. I don't see the star fish for a few days and then it came out from under some of my rocks with the legs many different lenghts now. Not sure what is bother it.

 

[nissin93]

I just caught mine on wednesday and they are very fast but patience and 4 hours later we finally got him alot of times they go back to the same rock so if you move it out to the front of the tank or where you can reach the rock quickly youll have a better shot at him the net idea at the back of the hole is a good idea once he goes back in the rock I used a fresh water dip andhe came right out. good luck

 

[H2OLUVSME]

that would prolly be the mantis.

LT

*edit*
this was in reference to trekkie's post.......got sidetracked and didnt post. oops

 

[Bathel]

Caught the bugger

Caught the bugger

BTW, what are you going to do with him when you catch him. id be willing to pay shipping if youd send him to me. ive been looking for N. wennerae, but would accept anything, at this point. that is if you are going to kill it.

LT

Finally caught the little bugger. Took forever to get him to wonder into the trap. I've keep the trap in there for months and months now, but he finally got curious and caught.

Does anyone want him? He's about 2" long red smasher.

I have no idea how to send him, but if you want him and you can tell me how to send him I'd be happy to do it.

 

[supertech3]

Wow, that is patience