Arg! I can't believe that after all this time

fambrough · 03/08/2006, 08:07 AM

My tank has been running for about 7 months and only now do I discover a mantis shrimp! And now that I've found him, his burrow is obvious. At least he's still small. I hope I can get him out of there before he decides to eat my fish. How large do they need to get before they become dangerous? This little brownish-grey fellow is about one inch long at most.

Thanks,
Ben

Glove · 03/08/2006, 08:12 AM

Ben,
They are not really dangerous so to speak, although some can get large.
I have one living in my 33 gal with corals, snails, fish, crabs and a cleaner shrimp with zero problems.
I am more concerned with my mantis getting fed and doing well, not so much as what damage it will do.
If you decide to remove it, do it with care as someone would enjoy keeping it. You will have no trouble finding a home for it.

nebraskareef · 03/08/2006, 08:13 AM

Hold on there cheif.

Not all mantis eat fish.

look at his "arms" are they knifes, or clubs?

only "knife" arms eat fish, and make huge burrows in sand.

either way, do not trash him when you get it out, the guys on the mantis forum would love to take him off your hands

fambrough · 03/08/2006, 01:54 PM

Well, I sure need to know more then. How do I tell what the claws should look like. Right now he seems pretty small, and like I said, tody is the first day I've seen him. I didn't get a great look and he is super fast. If he's not a dangerous kind, I would love keep and feed him.

Point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Ben

nebraskareef · 03/08/2006, 02:30 PM

Check out the mantis forum, lots of info.

If you can find his "cave" attach some krill on some rigid airline tubing and try to feed it. fight with him a little bit and he will smash at the tube if he's a smasher. If you decide to keep him in the main tank, beware you may loose some hermits/snails.

I never really had an issue w/ mine

goda · 03/08/2006, 02:54 PM

you sure hes mantis and not pistol. alot of people mistake the two

fambrough · 03/08/2006, 09:41 PM

No, I'm not sure. I've got some reading to do. First thing I will check is pistol shrimp identification. Do pistol shrimp have burrows in the live rock? This guy has made himself a neat little tunnel with a perfectly round opening.

Thanks

03/08/2006, 08:07 AM	#1
fambrough Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland Heights Posts: 545	Arg! I can't believe that after all this time My tank has been running for about 7 months and only now do I discover a mantis shrimp! And now that I've found him, his burrow is obvious. At least he's still small. I hope I can get him out of there before he decides to eat my fish. How large do they need to get before they become dangerous? This little brownish-grey fellow is about one inch long at most. Thanks, Ben

03/08/2006, 08:13 AM	#3
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	Hold on there cheif. Not all mantis eat fish. look at his "arms" are they knifes, or clubs? only "knife" arms eat fish, and make huge burrows in sand. either way, do not trash him when you get it out, the guys on the mantis forum would love to take him off your hands __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

03/08/2006, 02:30 PM	#5
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	Check out the mantis forum, lots of info. If you can find his "cave" attach some krill on some rigid airline tubing and try to feed it. fight with him a little bit and he will smash at the tube if he's a smasher. If you decide to keep him in the main tank, beware you may loose some hermits/snails. I never really had an issue w/ mine __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

03/08/2006, 08:12 AM	#2
Glove Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 562	Ben, They are not really dangerous so to speak, although some can get large. I have one living in my 33 gal with corals, snails, fish, crabs and a cleaner shrimp with zero problems. I am more concerned with my mantis getting fed and doing well, not so much as what damage it will do. If you decide to remove it, do it with care as someone would enjoy keeping it. You will have no trouble finding a home for it.

03/08/2006, 01:54 PM	#4
fambrough Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland Heights Posts: 545	Well, I sure need to know more then. How do I tell what the claws should look like. Right now he seems pretty small, and like I said, tody is the first day I've seen him. I didn't get a great look and he is super fast. If he's not a dangerous kind, I would love keep and feed him. Point me in the right direction. Thanks, Ben

03/08/2006, 02:54 PM	#6
goda Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: fortlauderdale florida area Posts: 1,874	you sure hes mantis and not pistol. alot of people mistake the two

03/08/2006, 09:41 PM	#7
fambrough Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland Heights Posts: 545	No, I'm not sure. I've got some reading to do. First thing I will check is pistol shrimp identification. Do pistol shrimp have burrows in the live rock? This guy has made himself a neat little tunnel with a perfectly round opening. Thanks