May Have Unwanted Guest

[Rv5]

hey guys,
my expert suspects I may have a mantis shrimp in my tank and recommended I get some advice from the members here at this board. My symptoms seem to be in line with a mantis. Started the tank in Jan, few months back started to loose all my fish, no bodies to be seen. I hear clicking noises at night when the lights are off. I started out simple, with a plastic coke bottle converted to a trap with silversides for the bait, but still no go. Im down to 5 cheap damsels in the tank (recently lost one of those even) after loosing such pretty and expensive fish like flame angels, paint fairy wrasse, grammas, etc. Like I said, Im not 100% sure its a mantis, especially since my trap hasn't caught anything, but what do you guys think? If it sounds like I do have a mantis, what can I do to get him out?

Thanks a bunch
Ross

 

[majestic sea life]

try some krill on some tongs then lure him out and net him from behind

 

[dc]

Could be a crab or anything if you've not seen it. Have you done a night run looking for crabs? A red lens works best. You could try to remove any survivers and starve the tank a couple days and then use MSL's advice.

 

[brett3735]

how big is your tank? flame angels, wrasses, grammas, and 5 damsels shouldnt be kept in anything small, that might be your problem

 

[incrediblekarma]

May Have Unwanted Guest

I agree--starve the tank for a couple days then bait with a pair of forceps or tongs. You'd be surprised what suddenly appears when they are hungry enough!


Marion

 

[Rv5]

update: the tank is a 50 gallon. im down now to 3 damsels and 2 green chromis. i had 4 damsels about 3 weeks ago or so, but since then my 5 fish have all been ok. i still hear clicking at night. i havent tried looking in awhile, but ill give it a try tonight. i do have some krill that i can dangle where i think he may be hiding, so i can give that a try soon too

 

[traveller7]

My mantis are silent at night.

Not saying you don't have a mantis, but that is not the profile of one in my experience.

At a minimum, what are the following water parameters:

temp
Specific gravity
pH in the early morning before lights turn on
pH late in the day before lights out
ammonia
nitrates

Hope all has stabilized and good luck.

 

[Rv5]

ill check the parameters for sure shortly. sg is a little low, im trying to bump it a point or 2. its at 1.21. ph is also a little low at right around 7.9-8. havent checked those numbers before the lights are on or after they are off. and havent check amonia or nitrates in awhile.

 

[ReefMagic]

In my experience, including the wild, my mantis' would roam the tank near evening but not dark. The one in my 72g, about 3-4inches, would roam and get up close to my fish and not even touch them. You should be able to capture him.
You could try dipping your rocks in freshwater/high salinity water, he'll jump right out if he is in the rock.