Spotted a mantis-little help please

efrank

efrank

Member
OK I have a black mantis with red eyes and antenas.
I put cocktail shrimp in a 2l bottle and have it sitting in my tank with the light off. What now?
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
watch it as long as you can but dont stay up all night! what are you planning on doing with the mantis if you catch it?
jon
 
keisersosei

keisersosei

Member
Did you invert the top of the bottle? If so, wait until the mantis goes in the the shrimp, then when you see that he's trapped, remove him. You can decide what to do with him next. You can try to sell it to your lfs (although they may be somewhat reluctant, mine laughed at me when I asked if they wanted it). You can keep it (what I decided on). Or you could flush him down the toilet. Many options here.
 
efrank

efrank

Member
So once he is in he can't get out right? Do I really have to sit up and watch it all night?
No plans for it yet
 
tjkohler

tjkohler

Member
There are many people who will pay for the shipping of the mantis too. That way you don't have to kill it. Remember, it was just sitting in it's big ocean when *POW*, someone grabbed it's home and flew it all of the place out of water. Anyway, I just don't think people should kill them when many others are looking for them.
 
tjkohler

tjkohler

Member
Cadbury,
When you said "plenum" did you mean refugium? a plenum is completely covered in sand so he's be buried :). Where in Michigan are you from?
 
tjkohler

tjkohler

Member
West Bloomfield. Shoot me an e-mail at 'tjkohler@yahoo.com' if you care to. Compare notes on the LFSs in the area.
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
yeah id definately be interested in the little critter, might spped up the set up pf my new 7 gal anyway
jon
 
keisersosei

keisersosei

Member
Yes, stay up all night watching for it. Don't blink, you might miss it. No, really, once he is there he will be trapped. Assuming, of course, that you inverted the top of the bottle (you didn't answer that question).
Yeah, stick the beast in your refugium. Put a screen or something over your bulkhead. You don't want any chance for him to get in your display tank. They are great creatures to watch and extremely easy to care for. Mine is peering out of his rock right now watching me. I think he knows I'm talking about him.
Or you could give him to Jon and let him reap the benefits.
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
man i am really torn here cause i would love to have a littel mantis tank, but was originally planning on using the 7.5 for a pair of 4 wheel drive gobies, as the only fish with lots of small corals, but now this opportunity arises, and im not sure what to do. i guess ill jsut have to start another tank!
DAMN THIS HOBBY!!!!!!!!!!!
:D ;) :D
good luck
jon
 
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