new tank has baby mantis???

[seaduck]

Hey All, I just set up a 10 gal nano reef with10lbs of live rock 3 weeks ago. Yesterday i found a exoskeleton of a shrimp like creature about 10mm- 1/2" long. The shell is clear. I also observed a little shrimp like creature scurrying around on the rocks in a very rapid manner. It came out to grab a fish food flake that I was trying to feed my scarlet legged hermit crab. This little creature was also clear in color. The tank light was on. Ive never seen a live mantis shrimp so I don't know how they move. This thing was very fast and walked all over the rocks in a manner similar to a dog running i guess. Could this little creature be a baby mantis shrimp?

 

[Agu]

[welcome]

Sounds very likely, esp if you have local aquacultured live rock. What kind of rock is it ?

 

[seaduck]

Marine store says they only carry "exclusively Tonga rock". So, I have Tonga rock what ever that is.

 

[Hutton]

sounds unlikely to me, chances are it is a harmless little amphipod, isopod, or copepod

 

[seaduck]

Ok, so i'ts prob. some sort of lil pod. Do mantis shrimp move about in a hurried manner or are they more lethargic?

 

[thor32766]

they are unbelievable fast!!!!!