Something killing fish in rocks

[megabyte]

I have lost 2 nice fish. It seems like all of my swimmers have no problem. I bought 2 fish that hide in the rocks and would come out when I fed the tank. After adding some new rock my 2 fish disappeared. I was told it might be a rock crab or something. What can I do to get rid of it? I have close to 300lbs of rock so I cannot start taking my reef apart. I have never seen the critter but I am assuming he is in there somewhere. Any suggestions?

 

[quazi]

Do you hear clicking noises, particularly at night? If so, congratulations! You have a mantis shrimp.
You can buy manits shrimp traps. Good luck on getting them out. When/if you do get him trapped- flush him, or give him to someone that wants him. There are such people

 

[megabyte]

Yes a have heard clicking a few time and I did suspect a Mantis Shrimp. Do you ever get to see them. Are they nocturnal?

 

[attml]

May possibly also be a Mantis shrimp. Try taking a small glass cup and leaning it up against some of your rock at a pretty good angle. Put a piece of shrimp at the bottom of the glass just before the lights go out for the night. Hopefully your critter will go for the shrimp at night fall into the glass and won't be able to get out because of the slick steep sides of the glass. Good luck!

 

[megabyte]

Excelent! Great idea! I will have to buy a trap also. Will it harm anything else in the tank?

 

[hnf2k]

I WILL BUY THE MANTIS OFF OF YOU IF YOU KEEP HIM ALIVE!

 

[megabyte]

Well I will try to catch him, if I do I will post it for you. Can I ask why you would want it?

 

[hnf2k]

to put in a 10 gallon species tank. i heard they are very fun to watch, as long as they are alone and not killing everyting in your tank.