Need help with mystery

[kiharaconn]

I have had two fish just disappear. Several of my snails have nothing left but the shells. And now a feather duster is gone. The fish that disappeared were two firefish. The first one to go had one paticular rock that she hung out in. I saw her swim into the rock one day and I didn't see her again for 3 weeks. She came out that time to eat. When she went back into the rock I never saw her again. The other firefish had a different rock. But after the first one went missing I saw him swim into her rock and poof he was gone. That has been around 4-5 months. Over time I noticed that I didn't have as many snails. And then the other night I saw where a large feather duster that was in the back of my tank was gone. I had thought at one time it was a mantis so I made a trap with a coke bottle. But all I "caught" was the three snails that I have left. I have never seen anything or heard anything. I turned off all the pumps and filters and waited until it calmed down and got my sethascope out and listened and heard nothing. The tank is in my den so I was thinking that if it was a mantis I would have heard it at some time. Does anyone have any ideas as to what it could be and how to get it out? I want to get more firefish but not until I find out what happened to the others.
Thanks

 

[teresaq]

could be a crab. try lookin in your tank at night with a red filtered light. try the coke bottle again with a nice piece of shrimp in it

 

[lazarus]

your cleanup crew could devour a sick or dead fish o'nite...i lost a few fish with no remains at all which remains a mystery. also if that cleanup crew includes hermits, they can kill the snails to get access to their shells. finding empty shells at least supports that theory.

 

[dragonladylea]

Also if it was a Mantis you would not need a scope to hear it trust me, my Pistol can be heard on the otherside of the house and Mantis are just as loud.

 

[lazarus]

i get confused between mysis and mantis and the hitchhiker section is not clear: is one good and one bad? which is which? can these things propogate from a refugium? i have lots of tiny creatures swimming around and another post is making me thinks its one of these types....

 

[big]

Mysis are good food, Mantis eats good stuff like your fish!

 

[lazarus]

then why do they sell mantis on this website?

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by LAZARUS
then why do they sell mantis on this website?
There are a lot of hobbiests who love to keep species tanks. Not something that I would want with that specific species, but to each his own...right??
Lisa :happyfish

 

[kiharaconn]

Someone told me that it might be a gorilla crab but again I've seen nothing. When I tried the coke bottle trap I used a piece of shrimp. Is it something that you have to just keep putting in there. I put it in and left it for a couple of days. Then I took it out and cleaned it and put another piece of shrimp in and left it in a couple more days. Nothing but my snails. In looking at my tank while feeding last night none of my snails came out. I don't have crabs in my tank cause I really don't like them. So if it is a crab he came in on live rock. I felt like if it was a mantis that by now I would have heard him. Like I said the tank is in the den and has has been set up about 1 1/2 years. The last time I added any live rock was a year ago. I assume that if it is a mantis that he has grown so that he needs larger items to eat. TeresaQ why the red filtered light? Is that something they can't see? I love to watch my tank at night with a flashlight to see what you usually don't see during the day. So I'll buy a red filter tonight to see if that works. I'm willing to try anything. I have a royal gramma now and am worried that he is going to be the next victim.

 

[phoenixofthepyre]

If it is a mantis you would hear a small series of clicks that will be easily recognizable. I would have to agree with the Gorilla Crab, they are nasty little buggers.