I know there are a ton of these threads, but nothing I've seen suggested is working. I've got a 40 gallon tank with about 80 lbs of TBS LR. First, at best I've only caught a glimpse of what I thought was a mantis shrimp way back in a hole. He clicks away a lot, leaves dead bodies (aka shells) everywhere, etc, but I've never actually seen him out. His location seems to move around, but I can't ever pinpoint his location. Heck, there may still be more than one in there.
I've tried traps, I've tried watching for him at night with a flashlight with a red filter over it (I was told they don't "detect" the light this way...*shrug*), I've tried watching without a flashlight, I've tried luring out with pieces of shrimp, I've tried holding something shiny outside the suspected hole to flush him out, I've tried pulling rocks out of the tank and sitting them out and/or squirting hypo/hypersaline solution in there...nothing.
One of my problems, other than not ever seeing him, is that it's possible the trap MIGHT work, but my two starfish always go into the bottle trap and either pull out the food, or get stuck in there, so that doesn't help or give it time to work, if it even would.
Does anyone have any suggestions? This thing has killed of most of the snails I had in there as well as several hermits, and is the prime suspect for two missing cleaner shrimp. I'd happily give this critter away to anyone who wants it, and if you're in the area, there's a free mantis and a reward in it for you if you come over and get the $#*@ thing out.
Any help GREATLY appreciated. I'm a desperate man with a five-year-old who really is impatient with daddy trying to catch the mantis shrimp in his tank.
I've tried traps, I've tried watching for him at night with a flashlight with a red filter over it (I was told they don't "detect" the light this way...*shrug*), I've tried watching without a flashlight, I've tried luring out with pieces of shrimp, I've tried holding something shiny outside the suspected hole to flush him out, I've tried pulling rocks out of the tank and sitting them out and/or squirting hypo/hypersaline solution in there...nothing.
One of my problems, other than not ever seeing him, is that it's possible the trap MIGHT work, but my two starfish always go into the bottle trap and either pull out the food, or get stuck in there, so that doesn't help or give it time to work, if it even would.
Does anyone have any suggestions? This thing has killed of most of the snails I had in there as well as several hermits, and is the prime suspect for two missing cleaner shrimp. I'd happily give this critter away to anyone who wants it, and if you're in the area, there's a free mantis and a reward in it for you if you come over and get the $#*@ thing out.

Any help GREATLY appreciated. I'm a desperate man with a five-year-old who really is impatient with daddy trying to catch the mantis shrimp in his tank.