Ideas to catch a mantis shrimp

[H@rry]

About 8 months ago I became aware that I have a mantis (saw him for the first time). Thereafter all the snails and hermits were eaten. Three weeks ago I decided to tear down the tank (225 gal) and find him. I took all the rock out (300 pounds) and didn't see him. I then dunked the rock (a piece or two at the time) in fresh water for maybe 15 or so seconds. Nothing came out except 'pods. In frustration I put it all back in hoping that I had killed him with the fresh water. I bought new snails and hermits. Last week I noticed a few newly emptied snail shells and then I saw the little b*****d! I got all the rest of the snails and hermits out and put them in another tank.

Here's what I thinking now. I read that you need to soak the rock in fresh water for 5 minutes so I plan to tear it down again and spend the day soaking the rock in fresh water. If that doesn't work I'll soak it in club soda. Now, if I still can't find him, maybe he's buried in the sand. I've got a 7 inch DSB and would rather not have to tear that out. That would probably mean I have to drain all the water out.

Questions:

1. How long should the rock soak in fresh water?

2. How long should the rock soak in club soda?

3. Is it likely that he would have burrowed in the sand?

4. I've tried the traps with no success. Anybody got any other suggestions?

Thanx in advance for your help. I'm very frustrated at not being able to get him out.

 

[MandarinFish]

Partition the tank into seperate areas. Narrow his space down. Use eggcrate or a tupperware tub top.

That's how I got my coral beauty out of my 135.

Good luck.

If you want to get rid of him, I'll take him off your hands.

 

[H@rry]

If you can catch him he's yours!

 

[Jawbone]

The LFS should carry a Mantis shrimp Tap I have heard of success stories of people using them. But I would wait till night and watch wich rock he climbs out of then turn on the lights and just remove that rock. They are usually pretty comfortable staying in their hole in the rock.

Dont kill it though - If you have a refugium keep it in there. If not Keep it in a little nano-tank they are actually pretty cool to watch

 

[Anonymous]

After I narrowed down which rock the mantis was it in my tank, I pulled it out and dumped club soda on it. The mantis came SHOOTING out of the rock and into the tub set to catch the water running off the rock.

He now lives in his own little 4 gal 'love hut"

.avi of him eating coming soon!

B

 

[H@rry]

If I could narrow down which rock he was in that rock would lay in the driveway for a week or so!

 

[Jawbone]

Oh there not that bad. Yes they eat your crustaceans and cost you lots of money, But hell so do a lot of women I know....
all kidding aside. They have made your hobby eventfull. I persoanlly dont mind them as cleaner snails and crabs are cheap food.
I am sure you can easily give it away in your area if you are so set on eradicating it.

 

[Tangy1]

If you find the rock he's in don't put it in the sump.

I watched one of my own grow frm about a 1/2" to around 1 1/2" over the course of 18 months. He lived in a huge rock at the bottom of the pile. He didn't hurt anything and was pretty good looking. He was quite entertaining to watch and even had a door that he would open and close to his hole.

When rearranging the rock one day I pulled his rock and sumped him. I figured he would be fine down there and he could grow at his own leisure without worrying me. I would check him out on occasion and kept tabs on him for about 2 months. Well 6' feet of tubing and an Iwaki 70 later...He was back in my tank. No possiblity it was a second either. I pulled the sump rock and it was empty. I still havent found his new home.

Catch him and give him away or whatever...dont sump him.

 

[Bobzarry]

I have had one in my tank about 2 years now. cant find him in dark or light. But I can sure hear him and see the damage he couses. I have tried the inverted bottle, soaking the rock in fresh water, mantis trap, home made trap, prayer, and now may consider calling in an exorcist.

good luck catching yours and do what you like with it....if I ever catch mine I'll chop him up and feed it back to the tank.


Bob

 

[Jawbone]

that should read Mantis Shrimp TRAP not tap - Unless you want to put some pipe threads in him