KILL To KILL A MANTIS SHRIMP!!!

[flamewrasse03]

Well I just returned to my aquarium about an hour ago to find I had a mantis shrimp crawling around on my LR. I tried to catch him with a net but he kept ducking into holes. I hear the suckers can land a pretty good swipe at you if you use your hands....any ideas how i can kill it before it kills my fish?

 

[foxface402]

STOP!!!!!! I.D it first it can be a pistol shrimp. I made so same mistake I didn't I.D mine I listen to everyone because of the loud noises I heard from the tank. I killed it then I.D it and it was a poor pistol shrimp. After you I.D and it is a mantis capture and give it to someone on the board that wants one. If you got a pistol he is alright Good luck

 

[bdhough]

I'll second that. See if you can line up a home for him. Nice 2 gallon tank species only. There are alot of people who will take him. Find the rock he's in take it out of the tank and run some water over the rock till he comes out. I heard seltzer water works... Start with some salt and see if you can flush him out. They are stubborn.

 

[flamewrasse03]

I finally caught the little guy.......it's definately a mantis shrimp. Now that I have him sitting in a little 10 Gallon tank it's actually quite an attractive looking specimen. I might actually keep him. Any clue what they eat?

 

[maxpain]

how do they get in the tank in the first place, just live in the live rock when you buy it?

 

[aarone]

Originally posted by Flamewrasse03
I finally caught the little guy.......it's definately a mantis shrimp. Now that I have him sitting in a little 10 Gallon tank it's actually quite an attractive looking specimen. I might actually keep him. Any clue what they eat?
Just meaty foods. A nice piece of krill will keep him happy.
Max,
They come in on the LR as hitch hikers.
aaron

 

[bdhough]

You mentioned he looks nice. Any chance of a pic. I've heard the peacock mantis are stunning and rare, ie they go for 30-40 dollars online. Some times more. Obviously the peacock is more multi colored than the common type.

 

[flamewrasse03]

I don't have a digital camera yet, but I'll see if I can get my friend to let me borrow his........it's not a peacock though, it's a lot smaller, but still really cool looking.

 

[1journeyman]

They are a cool looking species, but they do pack a punch. Their nicknames on shrimpboats are "thumb-splitters".
I reached into a bucket of live bait shrimp last summer and grabbed one of those beasts by mistake. When I saw what I was holding I'm not sure who was more scared.