What to do with a 1.5" mantis

[Reeffreak]

So I was looking at the tank and noticed this good size shrimp running around the rock in the bottom corner. After further inspection I saw that it was a Mantis shrimp. I removed the rock into a bucket and the shrimp came plopping out into the bottom. Now that I have this beautiful yet destructive shrimp in my custody, should I just kill it?

I really don't want to kill it, but there is no way that I am placing him back in my disply tank. Any suggestions?

Steve

 

[danmhippo]

No, No, the least you can do is selling it back to the LFS. (if you want to pay for the shipping, I would gladly take it into my menu

)

 

[Grandczar]

If it is a very good looking one I would be interested in it... So would alot of other members on this board. Pls do not kill it. Most of us are willing to pay shipping cost etc. Just an idea...

Why dont you set up a little nano tank for him? Be a very interesting pet to have.
Wont be able to "pet" it.. heheh..
But still would be very cool.

 

[Reeffreak]

Well I thought about setting up a small 12G tank for just this purpose, however I just finished setting up my new 90G, sold my old 60G, started a new job, finished remodeling a room in my house and my wife is going to have a baby in about 3 weeks. Whew! I think I am going to wait for a bit on another tank.

I have live rock in my sump, what about placing it in there?

Steve

 

[davelin315]

You could do that, or just wait for your pregnant wife to crave that special something, and instead of going out to get it, cook up a mantis shrimp cocktail! Just kidding. If it's a peacock mantis, sell it if you don't want it. I've seen people pay $30+ for them in the past (even though they usually arrive the same way yours did and the fish stores never pay for them).

 

[scavdog]

set up a 2.5 gallon nano. Great for decorating the baby room and only 30 lbs with all the rock sand and water.

But seriously, IMO he would probably be happy in the sump.

[ August 20, 2001: Message edited by: ScavDog ]

 

[Reeffreak]

Well about an hour ago after debating what to do and questioning my wife to see if she would want me to fry it up and serve it with some cocktail sauce (she didn't want any part of that), I decided to drop this sucker into the sump.

Hopefully when I reach in there to move the skimmer around he is not going to do one of those judo chops on my fingers.

Steve

 

[danmhippo]

heheh....Good luck finding it next time you want to get rid of him.....heheheheheh....

 

[tanzy]

I'll eat that bugger! Yum yum! Taste real good. Like a more tender scampi. Creamy too. Try it!

 

[davelin315]

You could get a new meaning for your name by dropping him in there - Reeffreak: saltwater hobbyist who has no fingers due to vicious mantis shrimp in his sump.

 

[jemichaeliv]

Just dont forget to feed him. Actually I have had mine for 2 years and I started hand feeding mine with a stick with a thawed shrimp on the end and he takes it right off.

He will also take directly from my hand now. Belive it or not they know what is what and where they get it from and if they mess up thats the end.

John

 

[jdeets]

Hopefully if your sump is glass the mantis is not of the "smasher" type...

 

[jemichaeliv]

Dont put him in a glass tank. He could crack it

 

[jemichaeliv]

Dont put him in a glass tank. He could crack it