My first(and second) Mantis, some questions.

[sevise]

My order for 160lbs of LR came in last Thursday. Saturday I got a very good look at a 2-3in Blue/Green Mantis just as I shut off the main lights. I saw him again today under some of the rockwork.

About 10 minutes ago while I was doing a flashlight pass I saw a flash of brown, in another area. I'm 99% sure I have another mantis this ones only about an inch though.

My plan at this point will be to capture the larger pretty one and transfer him to a small tank. The brown one probobly wont be so lucky.

My 4 day old tank, 120Gal, 160lbs LR, 150lbs Sand

So far I've only seen them in the open when its dark out, how do I lure them out in daylight?

The only inhabitents of the tank are what came with the LR, should I leave some food for them or can they survive by scavenging?

How teritorial are they, should I expect to find the smaller one dead soon?

 

[ihatter]

They are very territorial but in that size tank I wouldn't worry about it. If you get them out please send me a pm or email at Jtlacrozmaster@gmail.com I am dying for a small mantis! Thanks!

 

[sdm]

someone will eagerly take the brown one, all ya hafta do is post about it...

 

[Tballa]

I'll take the big one if you want. I've been looking for one for a long time. Thanks.

 

[Avid_aquarist]

160 lbs of live rock?! what kinda drugs are you selling!? :lol:
i couldnt even afford 16 lbs, let alone the shipping!
im just a poor college kid though.

 

[sevise]

I'm hoping both of the mantis survive my cycle. I'm about 5 days in and my ammonia is off the chart, Nitrite is undetectable. If I dont see any nitrites by this Sunday I'll start to do water changes to reduce the ammonia.

Tballa I'm going to keep the larger one, the smaller one may be up for grabs.

How can I lure them out in the light? They only seem to come out of the rock when the lights are out and scurry back when the flashlight hits them?

Should I add some food or will they feed off the other hitchhikers for a while?

 

[Dexter1334]

Do water changes to bring the ammonia down and try a bottle trap baited with frozen fresh shrimp near where you have seen the mantis. They usually don't move much once they have selected a safe spot, my N. Wennerae anyway. I couldn't catch mine until they were almost three inches. Until they reached that size they stayed in their holes. Once they neared maturity they started roaming. I think I had five in my 250 lbs of TBS. I cought the adults right away. They came right out. I had several immature ones and they never came out of their holes. I only saw their heads as they cleaned their homes and took frozen shrimp from my forceps.