Mantis Shrimp

[casey75]

The other day i noticed that 3 of my starfishes legs were shorter than the other and were eat off by something. And i found a dead cleaner shrimp. I think it is a mantis shrimp but im not sure. How can i tell if i have one and how do i get rid of it.

 

[sebae0]

what is your specific gravity at? sometimes starfish legs will break off from osmotic shock, this could also kill a cleaner shrimp too. how did you acclimate them to the tank.
most of the time if you think you have a mantis you will hear a clicking sound in the tank, this is caused from their clubs.

 

[casey75]

i acclimated them into my tank atleast 8 months ago. I havent ever turned off the lights at night myself, my dad does (fish illiterate).

 

[sebae0]

are you hearing any clicking or pops from the tank, this is usually the first sign you got a mantis. also check you salinity to make sure its not to low.

 

[casey75]

after i turned off the lights tonight i listened. I heard my filter because my water is low but is it a noticable clicking and how often does it occur

 

[flaming angel]

Could a Mantis Shrimp live in a tank for a year and just start attacking cleaner shrimp and sandsifting starfish? Or would it have come in on a coral? We recently put a flowerpot coral in the tank, but I can't imagine that it would come in on that.
What is the best way to catch a mantis shrimp?
Thanks,

 

[flaming angel]

Another thing I noticed was the something was moving the substrate around and digging a pretty good size hole. I thought it was one of the new fish we bought - possibly the dottyback.
Do mantis shrimp dig holes or move the sand around? Could the dottyback have eaten 2 cleaner shrimp and the legs off of a sandsifting starfish?
Thanks,

 

[flaming angel]

What are the chances that a dottyback is eating those things?