Mantis shrimp, pest or pet?

[ryan wong]

Hi, i have got a hitchhiker in the form of a mantis shrimp during my last live rock purchase.

Before i do anything drastic e.g. killing it I would like to find out more about them? i read alot about them, but i need to know whether they are fish and shrimp safe, snails?Do they eat algae?

It remains hidden in the live rock which i placed in the quarantine tank. If it is easy and does not pose problem, i might just leave it there.

Felt funny asking for advice here as i understand the people here actually keep mantis shrimp.

 

[rogerwells]

itll eat live stuff like the snails and shrimp...its like a predator so it eats meat....now i dont know but i never read about them eating algae and i wouldnt assume that they do...theres a thread in here about what to feed them if you want to read up on that.

 

[Docbones]

I have not had a shrimp last more than 2 minutes in my tank so far , but considering its hands down the coolest thing ive ever had in an aquarium that is fine with me.

I just go to the local flea market each week(yes the flea market has a fish store) get 12 blue leg hermits for $10 and let him go at it. I also pick up a pepermint shrimp or 2 if he has them in , the mantis loves them.

 

[ryan wong]

caught it

caught it

After some hours of stalking, i finally flushed the mantis shrimp out of the live rock. It a cool yellowish green and about 1 inch in lenght.


Hmm, too bad i live too far away to give it to mantis shrimp lovers like you guys. I am from Singapore, pls do not ask me to ship it over:lol: