Mantis Shrimp hitchhiker

[derek_SR]

Found a little mantis shrimp in my tank - 100% positive ID. He’s about 1.5” long.

Anyone have any experience with these, or recommendations on how to catch him? How long until the apocalypse?

 

[Turkeysammich]

I have had some. Did you get gulf rock ? Is he red ?
You can catch him with the drinking bottle trap. Like bristleworms.

 

[derek_SR]

I have had some. Did you get gulf rock ? Is he red ?
You can catch him with the drinking bottle trap. Like bristleworms.

Yeah rock from TBS. He’s kinda reddish brown I suppose. What sorta bait? Just a chunk of seafood?

 

[Patio]

Should take to a chunk. You could throw an empty shell in the trap with a chuck.

Spearer or clubber?

 

[Turkeysammich]

Yeah. Chopped up shrimp or something. He will stay in the same hole. The easiest way is to take the rock out and move it to a small aquarium. Then use the bottle trap. You know you got the right rock when the ticking goes away and moves into the small aquarium.
I had him for a while. He’s kinda fun. Never hurt anything. I gave him to Dennis.
They are usually clubbers from the gulf.

 

[Corallus]

I’ve had 2 mantis’ over the years, both smackers. First one was all black, about an inch long and was in the tank for probably 3 years before disappearing. Now I have what I think is a wennerae from some Florida rock that’s about 3”. I have it in with my breeding occilaris clowns with no issue. Ime, the aggressiveness and dangerousness of small smashers is overstated, unless you’re a snail or hermit crab . Plus they’re super cool critters.

 

[derek_SR]

Oh - hmmm, well maybe i’ll just leave him be! They are super cool - I was mostly afraid of losing fish. But this guy is a clubber and doesn’t even eat fish. Thanks for the great link above.