Mantis Shrimp - Caught!!

[trippclark]

Well, I was looking at my tank tonight and caught a glance of a pair of eyes looking back at me - a mantis! I bought a whole 3 lbs of rock at my LFS a few weeks ago to fill in some spots in my tank and so far it brought with it aptasia and now a Mantis. I managed to catch the rascal though. Thought y'all might like to see a picture. I don't know what kind of Mantis he is. I hate to kill him. I wonder if the LFS will take him? Maybe I should not worry about killing him, I am not sure that he is not responsible for a few mortalities in my tank already.

 

[yae4volcom]

You could just flush him or you could set up a small 5 gallon species tank for him.

 

[trippclark]

Yeah, I am thinking about that. Not sure where to keep it though.
This little guy is small; no more than an inch long. I have been losing scarlet reef hermits and snails and blaming blue legs. This guy may be the true murderer. On Christmas morning I work to find my newest fish dead -- a Royal Gramma that I got from SWF.com and added 2 weeks earlier. The Gramma seemed healthy the night before. I have no prior experience with Mantis, but I am guessing that it is very plausable that the Mantis killed the Gramma. What do you think? Is that reasonable?

 

[nerdy]

Yuck!!!! I hate those things!!

 

[buzz]

Your LFS may take him, but it may be a little small yet to re-sell. You'll find a lot of people around here willing to take him off your hands.

 

[tru conch]

glad you were able to catch him before he got too large
im sure that someone will be able to take him off your hands for a species only tank.

 

[mr. tuna]

by the way is that is a peacock mantis shrimp and it was a little bigger.. it can cut your finger right open. Bad enough for stiches.
:yes: good you caught it!!

 

[125intx]

I have been looking for one for my Eclipse 12. I would buy it from you if its for sale.
Chris
chrisharrell@fbsw.com

 

[noaquariumyet]

i just found out i have a mantis....how didi you get him out??

 

[hattrick58]

barbeque him - I hear they're delicious.

 

[trippclark]

noaquariumyet,
He was in a rock. I pulled out the rock and flushed him out with a turkey baster and aquarium water.
Sorry I did not answer sooner. I just saw your post. Hopefully, you have already caught the murderer!
Tripp

 

[lil_perc]

Mantis shrimp are to cool, unless they go on a Murderus rampage and kill your fish then there not,when i get more experiance under my belt i think im gonna try and get one of those shrimp, but as far as i've read people will pay top dollar for those aggressive buggers