Brand new guy

lillurker · 07/11/2007, 02:36 PM

Wasup everyone. I'm new to this and getting pretty excited about aquiring my first mantis shrimp. I'm looking actively for a Peacock. I'm in the process of setting up a 30 gallon glass tank and reinforcing the sides with acrylic sheets. So I still have a little while before a mantis will be ready to go in.
The story is kinda funny (well to me anyway) about how I became interested in the mantis shrimp. My roomate has a 75 gallon tank setup with a couple of damsels, clownfish, and some other very colorful others. Most importantly were the two hermit crabs that were for some reason losing their limbs (we thought that they were duking it out or something). I was feeding his fish, when I noticed this completely black shrimp in the tank. It darted off before I could do anything and I told him about it. Well, a few months and a couple of missing fish later (including a lionfish) he finally saw it and was completely freaked out. He asked the LFS guys and they said it was most likely a mantis and he needs to get rid of it. I looked it up on Wikipedia and was instantly hooked. I was kinda interested in the saltwater hobby, but now I am really ramped up trying to get my tank ready for a mantis shrimp.
So anywhoo, we are still trying to catch the one mantis, no luck, still trying. Don't quite know what type it is. I've looked at Roy's list and haven't quite id'ed it. I'll let yall know when I do. Its about two and a half inches long
Alright, well thats enough typing now. My hand hurts. lol

supateddy · 07/11/2007, 02:43 PM

I'm sure you've run across it by now, but just in case, have you tried the bottle trap??

lillurker · 07/11/2007, 11:02 PM

oh yeah, I have the bottle trap in there now. I've been put frozen krill in there. It seems the mantis would rather pick on the hermit crab than go after the krill. I took out the hermit in hopes that the mantis (we've named him Venom, by the way) would have to go for the trap instead.

lillurker · 07/11/2007, 11:07 PM

I just looked at Roy's list. The only one that comes close is the G. Viridis. I looked at the pic where its like a mantis lineup and its the black one on the left. I hope to catch him soon and find out for sure.

supateddy · 07/12/2007, 07:08 AM

If he likes live food you might try putting a hermit in the bottle. You'd be out one hermit, but might save the rest of the tank.

lillurker · 07/12/2007, 10:04 AM

Thanks I'll try that.

TMPoften · 07/13/2007, 09:18 AM

sounds awesome, can you take a pic of him when you do catch him?

lillurker · 07/15/2007, 10:16 AM

I'll take some pics for sure. I just wish it would slip up already and get caught

07/11/2007, 02:36 PM	#1
lillurker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 98	Brand new guy Wasup everyone. I'm new to this and getting pretty excited about aquiring my first mantis shrimp. I'm looking actively for a Peacock. I'm in the process of setting up a 30 gallon glass tank and reinforcing the sides with acrylic sheets. So I still have a little while before a mantis will be ready to go in. The story is kinda funny (well to me anyway) about how I became interested in the mantis shrimp. My roomate has a 75 gallon tank setup with a couple of damsels, clownfish, and some other very colorful others. Most importantly were the two hermit crabs that were for some reason losing their limbs (we thought that they were duking it out or something). I was feeding his fish, when I noticed this completely black shrimp in the tank. It darted off before I could do anything and I told him about it. Well, a few months and a couple of missing fish later (including a lionfish) he finally saw it and was completely freaked out. He asked the LFS guys and they said it was most likely a mantis and he needs to get rid of it. I looked it up on Wikipedia and was instantly hooked. I was kinda interested in the saltwater hobby, but now I am really ramped up trying to get my tank ready for a mantis shrimp. So anywhoo, we are still trying to catch the one mantis, no luck, still trying. Don't quite know what type it is. I've looked at Roy's list and haven't quite id'ed it. I'll let yall know when I do. Its about two and a half inches long Alright, well thats enough typing now. My hand hurts. lol __________________ Its the internet people!!!! Play nice!!! Current Tank Info: 28 gallon bow front. Instant ocean skimmer. Aqua Tech 20-40 power filter, 2x65 Lunar Aqualight. Sump in work

07/11/2007, 11:02 PM	#3
lillurker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 98	oh yeah, I have the bottle trap in there now. I've been put frozen krill in there. It seems the mantis would rather pick on the hermit crab than go after the krill. I took out the hermit in hopes that the mantis (we've named him Venom, by the way) would have to go for the trap instead. __________________ Its the internet people!!!! Play nice!!! Current Tank Info: 28 gallon bow front. Instant ocean skimmer. Aqua Tech 20-40 power filter, 2x65 Lunar Aqualight. Sump in work

07/11/2007, 11:07 PM	#4
lillurker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 98	I just looked at Roy's list. The only one that comes close is the G. Viridis. I looked at the pic where its like a mantis lineup and its the black one on the left. I hope to catch him soon and find out for sure. __________________ Its the internet people!!!! Play nice!!! Current Tank Info: 28 gallon bow front. Instant ocean skimmer. Aqua Tech 20-40 power filter, 2x65 Lunar Aqualight. Sump in work

07/12/2007, 10:04 AM	#6
lillurker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 98	Thanks I'll try that. __________________ Its the internet people!!!! Play nice!!! Current Tank Info: 28 gallon bow front. Instant ocean skimmer. Aqua Tech 20-40 power filter, 2x65 Lunar Aqualight. Sump in work

07/15/2007, 10:16 AM	#8
lillurker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 98	I'll take some pics for sure. I just wish it would slip up already and get caught __________________ Its the internet people!!!! Play nice!!! Current Tank Info: 28 gallon bow front. Instant ocean skimmer. Aqua Tech 20-40 power filter, 2x65 Lunar Aqualight. Sump in work

07/11/2007, 02:43 PM	#2
supateddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cloverdale, IN Posts: 85	I'm sure you've run across it by now, but just in case, have you tried the bottle trap??

07/12/2007, 07:08 AM	#5
supateddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cloverdale, IN Posts: 85	If he likes live food you might try putting a hermit in the bottle. You'd be out one hermit, but might save the rest of the tank.

07/13/2007, 09:18 AM	#7
TMPoften Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 113	sounds awesome, can you take a pic of him when you do catch him?