Uh Oh. I just spotted a juvenile mantis shrimp in my new office biocube 29 reef.

[Osteomata]

Yeah, not good. Had the tank up for about a month, just started putting things in it last week. This morning I spot a 3/4 inch mantis scurry across one of the rocks.

Any idea how fast these things grow? What do they eat when they are this small? pods? He looks to small to be a threat to my crabs/snails right now.

 

[scubasteve247]

well what color is he, i myself have a peacock mantis, i would recommend taking him out, hes to small now, but they can break glass.

and what they eat, they eat everything, fish, snails, crabs, hermits, w.e they can eat they usually will.

 

[jeffbrig]

What type of LR did it come in on? If it's the N. wennerae that's typical on FL aquacultured rock, they're fairly benign. I've had one in my big tank for a couple of years now, he's maybe 2". All he's ever harmed is the occasoinal small snail (he prefers tiny ceriths). This particular species is a basher that likes small crustacean, and doesn't attack fish.

 

[Osteomata]

I'm not sure which rock he came with. Some of my rock came from Doral Aquarium and Reptiel, most came from a FOWLR tank someone on this forum put me in contact with. So who knows. Im gonna keep an eye on things but not worry about it too much yet. Since he is so small, I think I will have plenty of time to catch him before he becomes a danger to most of my livestock.

 

[Scratch-D]

use a mantis trap and get him out they run aprox 20-30$

made by the same peeps that make the red slime remover

 

[sytanek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9635947#post9635947 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
What type of LR did it come in on? If it's the N. wennerae that's typical on FL aquacultured rock, they're fairly benign. I've had one in my big tank for a couple of years now, he's maybe 2". All he's ever harmed is the occasoinal small snail (he prefers tiny ceriths). This particular species is a basher that likes small crustacean, and doesn't attack fish.

\


Lucky!! For some reason mine decided anemone's are part of his diet, or are just really fun to play with. Needless to say, the anem didn't make it.

 

[gregbot9000]

dont throw him away if you catch him, i might take him =)

 

[ahoyhoy239]

easiest way to catch him is to take out the rock he is hiding in if you can, and dip it in a bucket of freshwater. he will be out in 2 seconds. if you want to keep it you can still put it back in some saltwater and it should be fine it it doesnt sit in the freshwater too long.

 

[Osteomata]

Maybe I' ll bring him to the next auction!
I don't think he will be too hard to catch. Its a small tank, only about 35lbs of rock. Soon as I figure out which rock he uses as his burrow, I should be able to catch him.

 

[REDDAWG43]

Hey if you catch him I would take him with the eclipse you are selling....

 

[Osteomata]

Well, I already got a PM for the Eclipse. If that falls through I will let you know.

 

[REDDAWG43]

Either way I would take him and give him a species tank....

 

[sytanek]

I have a mantis if someone feels like driving to volusia county for him...

And yes the freshwater trick works MOST of the time, I had a rock in a freshwater buncket for 15 mins, put it back in the tank and dumb thing popped his head out to look around.

Argh