Woah! Surprised to see a mantis in my tank

[ACBlinky]

I have two pistol shrimp in my 90g - a 1" Randall's, and a 2.5" tiger - and thought all the clicking I've been hearing was from them. This afternoon I looked into the tank and was absolutely shocked to see a tiny mantis shrimp looking back at me! Seems he's set up shop in a small hole in one of the bottom pieces of rock, so he's going to be a challenge to get out of the tank. He's actually quite a cutie, looks like he's a reddish colour and only about 1-1.5" long. I'd love to make him a home in my sump or even set up a nano for him. I definitely want to keep him, but I don't think it's a good idea to leave him in the main tank (especially seeing as I just bought some more snails and hermits!). Any removal tips? I don't want to hurt him, or myself, and removing the rock he's living in would be a major undertaking.

 

[saltwater4life1]

I've hear using a 2lr bottle and cutting the top off and turning it around and place something like mysis in side it and place it in the sand and just wait but thats just what i heard

 

[beelzebob]

if its small enough,and you have the patience....

an almost sure bet would be tospend $5 on a foot long piece of pvc like no more than an inch in diameter , a 90º elbow, and an encap

put this all togeather. (make an "L")

stick a nice fat cube of mysis all the way down in the bottom, in the cap, past the elbow.

sink it, stick it in the sand with the L side just under the sand.

(this should all be done at bed time)

turn out the lights. crack a beer.

(not to many you have to be sharp)

wait. when you see that lil bugger go down the tube to get his food, reach in slow, grab fast the open end, and in the tube with the food you should have a mantis dude!

 

[ACBlinky]

LOL that's a method I've never read before, I like it! Thanks for the ideas guys

I haven't seen the little guy since I spotted him yesterday, but boy can I hear him -- I'm wondering if he was scouting out a new home, because I've never heard this much clicking before. I'll see if I can catch him, but it's going to be quite a challenge.

 

[Dirt4dinner]

The clicking could still be your pistols....trying to talk Mr. Mantis into not going Rocky Balboa on their butts! I think I have a mantis in my display tank too...because I hear clicking but don't have any pistols!!!!! I still haven't seen one in there...but I think I might have one.

 

[ACBlinky]

LOL my tiger pistol is LOUD, and I can definitely hear the difference between him and Mr. Mantis. The mantis sounds like a firelighter -- a series of soft clicks -- and the pistol sounds like a huge crack. The other pistol is quieter, but it's pretty easy to tell him from the mantis (now that I know the other clicking is a mantis) because his clicks come in twos. The mantis has been making up to ten clicks in a row the last few nights, I'm wondering if he's creating a new home in the rockwork.

OT, but I have to mention that I LOVE your avatar. Part of my New Year's resolution is to stop drinking pop (all caffeine) and eating fast food, particularly McDonald's. Next time I crave deep-fried junk I'll think of your avatar and have a laugh... and maybe some carrots