hitchhiker question

m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
i recently bought a 5.5 pound live rock for my tank. Today when feeding my fish i was watching and this large(about 3 inches i would say) shrimp looking thing was poking his head out of a rock. I could not get a very good look at him but from what i saw it looked just like my skunk cleaner and peppermint, just clear in color (i think). i looked it up and all i could find is a mantis shrimp, although it didnt really look at the kinds i saw online. As i read i heard they are a danger to my clowns and small fish. Anyone have an idea about what this shrimp looking thing could be and if i should be worried about him doing damage?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Sounds like a baby mantis, which usually doesn't have color yet, or a pistol shrimp (Tiger Pistol Shrimp).
Can you take the rock out?
If you can, there are a few methods:
1) Place the rock in a bucket with a salinity level higher than 1.03. and let it soak. Usually bad critters will come out in the higher salinity, but it won't kill off everything in the rock. Place egg crate in the bottom of the container if you can, this way when the critter climbs out, he can't get back in.
2) Hold the rock out of the water (don't do this for more than 5-10 minutes) over a bucket and usually the bad critter will jump out. This method is not as effective as the higher salinity method.
If you can't take the rock out:
Start looking up mantis shrimp traps online.
 
m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
yea the rock can be taken out. He is gross looking but i dont really mind him being in there unless he will bother anything. Is the best bet just to take it out?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by m-barbour http:///forum/thread/383571/hitchhiker-question#post_3355734
yea the rock can be taken out. He is gross looking but i dont really mind him being in there unless he will bother anything. Is the best bet just to take it out?
Yes. At least identify what you're dealing with. If it's a mantis shrimp, it has to go. Pistol shrimps can behave, it depends. I have one that behaves, but others have ones that are little terrors. Do you have a sump? You could place him in there.
 
m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
no i currently do not have a sump..maybe ill just get him out the salinity way and keep him in a 10 gallon to see what he is and maybe get a picture for you
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by m-barbour http:///forum/thread/383571/hitchhiker-question#post_3355744
no i currently do not have a sump..maybe ill just get him out the salinity way and keep him in a 10 gallon to see what he is and maybe get a picture for you
Sounds good. If it's a pistol shrimp, you could always keep him in the 10G. I keep mine in a 14G with a shrimp goby. If you have a local reef club, you might be able to sell it to someone as well (pistol shrimp or mantis) and some LFS's will take them back as well.
Good luck getting him out.
 
m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
sure will...still havnt been able to get the critter out. I guess im gonn just try holding it out of water for 5 minutes and if that doesnt work put the rock back in the tank for the night and try again tomorrow
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Leave it in a bucket of water overnight with a cup with fish food in it so the "creature" can get in, but not back out. One nigh in stagnant water won't hurt the rock, but if you have an extra powerhead, throw it in the bucket, heater as well, if you have one.
 
m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
hmm ok ill throw a heater in with a cup of flakes/mysis or something? how can i make it so he can get the food but not come out?
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
put the glass on an angle upwards with mysis in the bottom. If it is a shrimp, it will be able to climb down to the food but not out due to the slick sides. Also be ready to pick other things out of the glass as any bristle worms will make their way into the glass. if it is a mantis, you will want it out and you could get a decent price for it from your local reefers club. Most clubs have 2 or 3 in it that have mantis and would like more.
 
m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
FINALLY. i got him..sorry for the picture quality..i can get other pictures of the quality isnt good enough for an ID..let me knoe
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Hmmm.... in the pic you posted, are his eyes on the right side of the picture, and his tail on the left?
I think Teresa is right, but I'd like another picture to be sure.
 
m-barbour

m-barbour

Member
i believe so about the rock...it kinda looks like a bunch of stick like rocks glued together..if u can picture what i mean. It is a very nice rock. Is there any way of figuring out which type of mantis it is? anything i can look at/for on the mantis or do i have to wait until it gets a little bigger and color variation. I think im gonna set up a 10 gal with thick live sand and pvc tubing or something for the little guy
 
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