When mantis's attack

[jimmycent]

I have been in denial for a little while now, but there is now no denying it.I finally sore him with my own eyes. I have a hitchhiker mantis who came in with a box of rock and he has to go.His not as colorful as ones i have seen pictures of but im pretty sure its a mantis. Have heard the clicking, and also witnessed the hell he can unleash with the vanishing of 2 of my fish. How can i get rid of him? Do those crab traps work? The ones where you put the food inside it and they go in to get it but the way the things works they cant get back out? If not do i fresh water bath my rock? If so will i loose much life from the rock? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, James

 

[jb61264]

Watch it for a few days and see which rock he claims as home, then when you know it is in there remove the rock. From that point there are a couple of things you can do...I've heard of taking a syringe of fresh water and rinsing out the hole that it is in...I've also heard of people using a selzer water to do the same thing. Have your rock in a little bit of regular tank water so when it comes out it will be able to survive. Please do not kill it as there are many like myself who love keeping these amazing creatures...just in a separate tank

Seriously though...I will pay for you to ship it to me once you isolate it from your tank. PM me and I can give you the instructions for shipping one.

 

[jimmycent]

If you really wanted it I would send it to you, but im over in Australia, so I don't think it would survive sorry. Also as I stated, its no where near as bright and colorful as the ones i have seen people keep. Anyone else have any other ideas? I just would like an arsenal of things to throw at it to get him out.

 

[snorvich]

The best way is to get a fish trap with a controllable door (fishing line or whatever). Don't feed the tank for a day. Bait the trap with something smelly like table shrimp (prawn). Devote a period of time to sit by the tank, controlling the door. Keep the door open just enough to allow the mantis shrimp in. May take an hour, so be patient, but it is fool proof.

 

[markeo99]

if you have no other crabs or shrimp I have interceptored my tank it gets them