Mantis shrimp...

[Salty Cracker]

Noticed one tonight in the tank. About an inch long. Fast little bugger. What's the best way to catch him?

 

[setsail4mexico]

Make a trap out of a small plastic bottle (clear one)... cut the top off and invert it and wedge it back in (make sure cap is off first... stick some rocks in it to make sure it stays put and put a small piece of seafood inside (really any will work - can be ironic and use a piece of shrimp) and put that on the bottom of your tank. He will find his way in to eat and you can take him out... if you happen to catch any of your good critters you can simply release them. Good luck!

 

[Salty Cracker]

Thanks.

 

[Rhygar666]

Thanks.

mine had the exactly same rock/hole so i just took the stone out and poured a little bit water in that hole, it jumped out in a hurry (have it in a nano aquarium now) interessting little buggers.

those water bottle traps never worked but mine is smaller and is happy living from frozen artemia

 

[Pdfcrazy]

there are commerically available mantis shrimp traps you can find at alot of LFS

 

[KingTriton1]

I know people aren't going to like this, but a hammer and chisel imo

 

[nuxx]

Trail and error.

Try the bottle trap, then the store bought one, then find where he lives and dunk the rock in RO until he comes out.

 

[nmotz]

You should give him to your LFS once you catch it. There's always people (like me!) who will be happy to give a mantis a good home. Or just keep it, they're really unique creatures, and who doesn't appreciate a ruthless predator in their lives? Good luck!

 

[nuxx]

Lots of people just keep them.

I don't think I'd tear down our tank for one. Guess it depends if he ever becomes a killer.

Heard of lots of larger tanks with a few Mantis in there that never had issues past snails and crabs.

 

[KingTriton1]

The loud noise they make drove me crazy. I had two mantis and a pistol in a 20 gallon. I found them hard to caught even though I knew where their hole was.