Mantis shrimp?

bandh0526 · 06/13/2008, 09:28 AM

I found something in my tank that looked somewhat like a dead praying mantis about an inch long. I've heard of mantis shrimp, but I never actually seen one. Could this be a dead one, or do they molt like all the other shrimp and I still have a live one running around my tank? I haven't seen it alive, don't they like to hide? They aren't good for my tank either are they? I looked them up, but didn't know if that was really it.

sassafrass · 06/13/2008, 09:34 AM

can you get a pic
Lee

bandh0526 · 06/13/2008, 09:40 AM

Nope, I noticed it a few days ago and I asked some people what they thought it was. Nobody really knew. Now the body or "molt" is gone, probably due to my clean-up crew. It was brown when I saw it. I was on it's side. I told my husband, "that looks like a praying mantis!" and he said that maybe one of our shrimp molted but I was suspicious. I just happened to come across an article on them and was like, "that must be it!"

Playa-1 · 06/13/2008, 09:46 AM

Mantis Shrimp don't exactly look like a praying mantis. They look like an Armor Plated Shrimp on steroids without all the long whiskers.

abulgin · 06/13/2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Playa-1
Mantis Shrimp don't exactly look like a praying mantis. They look like an Armor Plated Shrimp on steroids without all the long whiskers.

I think they resemble a praying mantis. There are a lot of variations. Here are two I was able to find on the net:

Yes, shrimp, including mantis shrimp, molt.

bandh0526 · 06/13/2008, 11:04 AM

It was only about an inch long and it looked identical to the bottom picture. I saw it's little face, that's what made me think of a praying mantis...not so much the rest of his body. Maybe he was dead. I kinda hope so.

Playa-1 · 06/13/2008, 02:06 PM

yikes,
I bet it was a molt. You should set a trap for it.

Playa-1 · 06/13/2008, 02:07 PM

I guess they do resemble a Mantis in their ugly lil faces

fyrefysh · 06/13/2008, 03:26 PM

I'm sure it's a molt, you'd better set a trap depending on what the tank is stocked with. Try to get it while it's small.

bandh0526 · 06/14/2008, 07:36 AM

How would I set a trap? I've never had to do that before?

ihavtats29 · 06/14/2008, 09:18 AM

a fish trap and a small emerald crab as bait may work

bandh0526 · 06/14/2008, 10:56 AM

How would I go about that? I mean, I have no experience setting traps at ALL. Is there a link to help me?

bandh0526 · 06/14/2008, 01:25 PM

I think I might have found a link. It involves a soda bottle...does that sound right?

ihavtats29 · 06/14/2008, 04:34 PM

here is a link or you could try the bottle trick

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...s~vendor~.html

06/13/2008, 09:28 AM	#1
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	Mantis shrimp? I found something in my tank that looked somewhat like a dead praying mantis about an inch long. I've heard of mantis shrimp, but I never actually seen one. Could this be a dead one, or do they molt like all the other shrimp and I still have a live one running around my tank? I haven't seen it alive, don't they like to hide? They aren't good for my tank either are they? I looked them up, but didn't know if that was really it. __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

06/13/2008, 09:40 AM	#3
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	Nope, I noticed it a few days ago and I asked some people what they thought it was. Nobody really knew. Now the body or "molt" is gone, probably due to my clean-up crew. It was brown when I saw it. I was on it's side. I told my husband, "that looks like a praying mantis!" and he said that maybe one of our shrimp molted but I was suspicious. I just happened to come across an article on them and was like, "that must be it!" __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

06/13/2008, 11:04 AM	#6
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	It was only about an inch long and it looked identical to the bottom picture. I saw it's little face, that's what made me think of a praying mantis...not so much the rest of his body. Maybe he was dead. I kinda hope so. __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

06/14/2008, 07:36 AM	#10
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	How would I set a trap? I've never had to do that before? __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

06/14/2008, 09:18 AM	#11
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	a fish trap and a small emerald crab as bait may work __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

06/13/2008, 09:34 AM	#2
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	can you get a pic Lee

06/13/2008, 09:46 AM	#4
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Mantis Shrimp don't exactly look like a praying mantis. They look like an Armor Plated Shrimp on steroids without all the long whiskers.

06/13/2008, 02:06 PM	#7
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	yikes, I bet it was a molt. You should set a trap for it.

06/13/2008, 02:07 PM	#8
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I guess they do resemble a Mantis in their ugly lil faces

06/13/2008, 03:26 PM	#9
fyrefysh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 137	I'm sure it's a molt, you'd better set a trap depending on what the tank is stocked with. Try to get it while it's small.

06/14/2008, 10:56 AM	#12
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	How would I go about that? I mean, I have no experience setting traps at ALL. Is there a link to help me? __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

06/14/2008, 01:25 PM	#13
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	I think I might have found a link. It involves a soda bottle...does that sound right? __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

06/14/2008, 04:34 PM	#14
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	here is a link or you could try the bottle trick http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...s~vendor~.html __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI