Mantis Traps

[jeffreylesser]

I have not had much luck yet with Mantis traps. I have caught my pepermint shrimp and some nassarus(sp?) snails, but no mantis. The not so smart mantis have been removed from the tank, and I am left with a couple smart ones under big rocks. Has anyone out there had luck, and if so what bait did you use? I have tried Mysis shrimp, and grocery store shrimp. What has worked out there?

 

[lionbacker54]

mantis traps have never worked for me. if you can isolate the rock where they are hiding, you can pour some club soda into the holes of the rock. wait a minute. then put the rock in a bucket of salt water. they should come shooting out.

 

[jeffreylesser]

Problem is, I have some Gigantic Rocks. I have one in the area of 60 pounds I would guess. This is where the remaining shrimp live.

 

[noahm]

Don't know if you read through this already, but it has lots of input. Personally, I have found that you have to feed the smart ones bait (shrimp/squid whatever) off of a skewer for a few weeks and then try trapping them once they get a real taste for it.

Mantis Q&A
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1630201

 

[N-E CICHLIDS]

Get a bucket of r/o water and put the rock in the bucket of water for 10-15 seconds. Most mantis shrimp will shoot out.

 

[Madratter]

I finally got one of mine last night. I have been having miserable luck trying to get them. However, I finally had a break. One was digging under a yellow sponge ball and I was able to net it.

I have at least one and I think two more to go.