Mantis Trap

[noahm]

Here are a couple of pics of a Mantis/crab trap that I whipped up this afternoon. It is basically a modified 'stick under the box' trap/one way. Can't say it is proven yet, but soon will be tested.

Essentially the critter goes into the tapered entrance after the bait. The doorway was siliconed along the edge while it was closed so that it is spring loaded and hinged. The bait is hooked with a fishhook with the leader run through a hole in the 'bait stand' and tied through a hole in the 'stick. The critter pulls the bait as crabs/mantis like to do and the 'stick' drops quite easily. Viola.

Can be made in a variety of sizes. It may even work without the 'stick' altogether as crabs etc can be rather bullish and may just push the trapdoor open to get in.

I am thinking that it might be beneficial to coat the entrance with sand on silicone or something to give better purchase, as well as put a rock next to the bait ledge for purchase as well.

The lid is not shown, but is just a piece of acrylic that is rubberbanded on for easy removal.

Trap set.

Trap Sprung

What do you think?

 

[divemonster]

It looks like a clever design. When are you going to test it?

 

[noahm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14244468#post14244468 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
It looks like a clever design. When are you going to test it?

As soon as I get my rock. Should be this week according to Richard.

 

[Reefing102]

Great Design, my only question is the lid, is there air holes in it to allow air to escape when you rubberband the lid to the top place it in the water?

Hope that makes since.

 

[noahm]

If you look closely, their is about a 3/16" gap at the top of each end where the end is cut short so the lid will allow air to escape as well as a small bit of through flow so it doesn't get stagnant.

I am thinking now of adding a couple of tabs to the bottom of the lid so that it 'nestles' in place. That way just a single rubber band will hold it down and no way for it to slip side to side. As of now it is just a flat rectangle of acrylic.

Thanks for the compliments. If it works, I will be happy to pass it around on the honor system for the cost of shipping once I am done with it.

If it doesn't, I'll change its name to the Mantis Feeding Station.