This is why you QT (saving a critter)

[Airborne12B]

Well, a friend of mine is moving back to Huston and broke down his tank. He sold most of his corals and gave what was left to a friend of his. I talked to my friend's friend to see if there was anything he could part with. He said he had a few orange Rhodactis that he didn't need, so I swung by and picked them up. Sixty minutes and ten bucks later I had two awesome Rhodactis dripped, dipped, and in quarantine. After a few weeks I'm feeding them, and doing the obligatory observation when I notice these two guys.

https://www.wevideo.com/view/659829074

So I'm pretty excited, I love finding new critters. Spending hours scouring the rocks for new signs of life is one of my favorite parts of this hobby. So, I'm figuring the one on the right is some form of Pantopoda, and the guy on the left is a Lysiosquillina maculata. If I really am dealing with a Pantopoda, I'm just going to eat the ten bucks, and chuck the Rhodactis. The only problem is I want to keep the mantis. I thought I would share my newest addition (in his own tank). Any Ideas on how to get him out of there? Also, how do I embed the video with BBC? Thanks ahead of time!

 

[Airborne12B]

Any suggestions?

 

[tkeracer619]

Very cool!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

That is pretty Awesome! I can't believe how fast they are. If it were me I'd go to Petco on the next $ per gal sale and get them their own tank. I don't know how big they get but I would think a 20L would be enough for them? Maybe post this in the Mantis forum for suggestions on tank size etc.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

awesome hitchhikers.Like Dkuhlmann said I would set up their own tank.

 

[Reef908]

Awesome find!

 

[Airborne12B]

Agreed, it's awesome. I already have the tank to put the shrimp in, but I'm just trying to figure out how to get it out of the rock. I was trying to lure him out, but he's just too fast.

 

[FirstContact]

+5 That is really awesome! Free Mantis shrimp!

 

[postshawn]

You can try the bottle trap.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2386259

 

[tkeracer619]

Mantis shrimp have some of the best vision on this planet. They can see you before you make it around the corner. You won't sneak up on them.

We have 3 receptors (RGB), they have up to 16!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I would just start them in their own tank, leave the rock they're in now for them. Add lots of mostly rubble rock in piles around the sandbed and let them decide where to move to. You can move the rock later once they move out of it if you still want.

 

[snorvich]

Ber aware Rhodactis eat fish. Especially vulnerable are clownfish.

 

[Airborne12B]

I would just start them in their own tank, leave the rock they're in now for them. Add lots of mostly rubble rock in piles around the sandbed and let them decide where to move to. You can move the rock later once they move out of it if you still want.

It looks like that might be my only recourse. The mantis hasn't been falling for the ol' bottle trap. They're still in the QT tank, but i'll probably set up a permanent home here in the next day or so.

Ber aware Rhodactis eat fish. Especially vulnerable are clownfish.

Well, it looks like I won't have to worry about that anymore lol!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You should do a thread about your hitchhikers and their new home in the mantis forum. Would be cool to follow them and their building new homes outside of their rock. Very interesting creatures.

 

[Sonyardo]

I've used a high salinity dip in the past that was somewhat successful in getting critters to leave a rock. It was amazing what crawled out of the rock. Unfortunately the one crab I wanted to come out just went to the edge of his hole and gave me the evil eye It might be worth reading up on. It was along time ago so i don't remember the process.

 

[Airborne12B]

You should do a thread about your hitchhikers and their new home in the mantis forum. Would be cool to follow them and their building new homes outside of their rock. Very interesting creatures.

I just might do that! I always wanted a hitchhiker that didn't keep me awake at night, and since I found him so early in his life he'll grow up being the star of his own tank. I'll probably put it on a counter top somewhere.

I've used a high salinity dip in the past that was somewhat successful in getting critters to leave a rock. It was amazing what crawled out of the rock. Unfortunately the one crab I wanted to come out just went to the edge of his hole and gave me the evil eye It might be worth reading up on. It was along time ago so i don't remember the process.

I tried the bottle trap, and he either didn't go for it, or figured it out. I did a water change in QT today while I setup his home. I think the next step is to jab a dental pick into the spider's hole and call it good. It's not ideal, but the last thing I want is for it to start multiplying.