pistol shrimp trap - advice

I have never used this for a pistol shrimp so judge the creatures size, other tank creatures (collateral damage), and adapt. Here is what I have done to catch:

Hostile hitchiker crab
6 line wrase
Flame Angle (biggest guy yet)

Size accordingly. Crab and wrase what I did was visit a LFS and obtain the cups WITH lid the store beta fish in. Rinse out well. Cut a square just big enough for said creature to enter in top of lid. On the side of the cup, top, lid put a tiny hole in side and top and thread fishing line. Clear line please, not the yellow stuff (maybe fish are color blind but I didn't want to be laughed at from the darn guy I'm trying to catch.... yeah, it could happen).

Anyway - so now you have the cup, lid, with a square in the top, and on the side the fishing line. Don't feed the tank for 2 days - maybe 3 in worse case. Get them good and hungry to the point whereas they want to call PETA on you. On the 3rd or 4th day after lights out you put a piece of silver side in there or some brine shrimp and the silver side. Think if it like chumming. Anyway - its inside the cup and you put it in the tank. Near his home if you want or know night club, er - hang out with you hunkered down below the tank watching.

Believe it or not something will enter the cup to eat. Your job is to wait and as soon as either you see it, or someone you trust says its inside, you pull it up quickly after it is all in. Up and out it goes and you can return it to the LFS or sump. Either way you have the guy and score.

Owner 1
Pistol Shrimp 0

Regarding size. Tupperware containers work that you can buy from the local stores. Again seal the lid up really good and cut the size of hole for the creature you want to capture. Line is always top / side so it can be at a angle - maybe 30 degrees or such. They can enter, but when you pull it will trap it.

I've also seen plastic 2 liter bottles used as well. Just make sure you set the bait well enough in the back so he can enter. Again, you tug the line and he is trapped.

It works but your mileage may vary.
 
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