Something weird is in my tank

[sparkee61]

Looked at my tank this afternoon and fed the fish and corals cyclops. All of the sudden,this "thing" sprang from a half inch hole in the LR. It moved back into the whole as quickly as it came out.All I can see are two feelers (1/2 in length) and 2 eyeballs.One, what is it? Two, how can I get rid of it? I don't want it to kill any fish corals I have.
Its amazing what comes with these LR's! A friend of mine was losing fish and didn't know why. Until one day, he noticed a praying mantis feeding on one of his fish. He never bought a praying mantis.

 

[beatlesfan]

Probly a bristle worm. also there is no need to get rid of them until they grow huge (like a foot long). They are some of if not the best scavengers there are. Now i may be completely wrong so wait for someone more knowledgeable. Also a Picture would help ALOT.

 

[krazekajin]

I don't think you have bristle worm as you said this thing had feelers and eyes. I would lean towards a mantis shrimp or some sort of crab/lobster.

 

[krazekajin]

do a search on mantis shrimp and see if that looks like waht you saw.

 

[kroch3rd]

maybe some type of pod, im guessing copepod. they look like bugs. they move very fast. i think they are nocturnal but not sure.

 

[sfoister]

Originally Posted by kroch3rd
maybe some type of pod, im guessing copepod. they look like bugs. they move very fast. i think they are nocturnal but not sure.
Pods are not a half inch in length.
This may be a small crab or a mantis shrimp. Probably what you are refering to as a praying mantis. Mantis shrimp are bad bad bad. Remove that SOB asap. Also, bristle worms will feed on corals, so you want to remove them quickly if possible.

 

[stephish]

take a listen to your tank after lights out...ever hear a clicking sound?

 

[kroch3rd]

Originally Posted by sfoister
Pods are not a half inch in length.
This may be a small crab or a mantis shrimp. Probably what you are refering to as a praying mantis. Mantis shrimp are bad bad bad. Remove that SOB asap. Also, bristle worms will feed on corals, so you want to remove them quickly if possible.
bristleworms dont feed on corals. i have a reef and tons of bristleworms and they don't pick at my corals

 

[coachklm]

sounds like a crab or a mantis shrimp

 

[cjml]

Originally Posted by kroch3rd
bristleworms dont feed on corals. i have a reef and tons of bristleworms and they don't pick at my corals
Agree about bristles!They are ok. But not a mantis - they are evil! :scared:

 

[reefforbrains]

well a pointed stick and a repeated stabbing motion in the hole should stop the whole situation. Just hate to do it that way. Go on a flashlight expedition an hour after lights are off in the tank and see if you can get a better look before you go killing some bluelegged boxer or monkey shrimp by mistake.
Mantis are not fuzzy, and they tend to be brightly colored, monkeys and boxers are often mis-ID'd because of thier rareness in the hobby. Get an ID before you do something you regret.

 

[rbaldino]

Probably a mantis shrimp. There are traps you can get to catch it, but I don't know how well they work.

 

[sparkee61]

I dont want to go poking around and have it swim into an area that I can't get to.If it is a small mantis, I want to get rid of it now! The hole is directly facing the front of tank. I was thinking of using Joes Juice and squirting it the hole.

 

[nigerbang]

Originally Posted by sparkee61
I dont want to go poking around and have it swim into an area that I can't get to.If it is a small mantis, I want to get rid of it now! The hole is directly facing the front of tank. I was thinking of using Joes Juice and squirting it the hole.
LOL....Its a huge aipti. crab..

 

[fallnhorse]

Yep sounds like a thumb splitter. Just remember why we call mantis shrimps that.

 

[fishy head]

a picture is worth a thousand words

do not mean to be mean but a picture will help

 

[sparkee61]

no way to get a picture. The varmit stays in a half inch opening in the LV and when food floats by....WHamo!!! and then back in the hole.

 

[coachklm]

take the rock if its clean of corals and due a 5min freshwater dip that should get him out shake it when you put it in and then shake it when you take it out(be careful holding the rock)

 

[sfoister]

Originally Posted by kroch3rd
bristleworms dont feed on corals. i have a reef and tons of bristleworms and they don't pick at my corals
Sorry to hijack the thread for a minute.. but.. they do feed on corals if they get big enough.
For proof
http://oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm
And they don't need to be 7 feet to start eating polyps.

 

[catawaba]

Mantis shrimp. Take the entire rock out of the tank and put it in a large bucket. Splash around some saltwater in the bucket/on the rock. They'll usually come out of the rock with some 'agitation'. If not, then entice it with some food.
Gotta get that out!