I think this is mantis shrimp?

knickel · 08/24/2012, 02:03 PM

i have been researching and i believe this is a mantis shrimp. i finally was able to see the whole thing! please let me know if i am right. i want coral anemones and a few fish in the long run so should i get rid of him now while i am cycling?

Sugar Magnolia · 08/24/2012, 02:06 PM

Yes, it's a mantis. It will eat whatever it can catch.

mandarin_goby · 08/24/2012, 02:10 PM

thank goodness you found him before stocking the tank...hopefully that will make catching him easy. There's a mini-forum here with people who have tanks dedicated to these guys!

Misled · 08/24/2012, 02:13 PM

Yes, yes it is. Try to trap it. You can trade for something at your LFS. Or just mail it to me!!!!!

knickel · 08/24/2012, 02:43 PM

So y'all think pull the rocks out put them on a towel and chase him down with a net?

Misled · 08/24/2012, 03:50 PM

That probably won't work. I caught one once in non-flavored carbonated water, mixed with salt to match the tank in a 5 gallon bucket. Get the temp of the water close to the display. Get another 5 gallon bucket and make water like you would for a water change. Remove a few pieces of rock from the tank and place it in the carbonated water for five minutes. After five minutes, move it to the other regular water. Store the rock there and keep going till you see the little guy in the bottom of the carbonated water bucket. If you know the rock he's in, it will go fast. If not, he'll be in the last rock, like mine was.
After you catch him, put the rock back.

gpx1200 · 08/24/2012, 04:10 PM

the corals and nem will be fine with the mantis but any slow or bottom dwelling fish will be in danger, looks like you have a n. wennare mantis ther wich is a smasher and generaly prefers crabs and snails over fish, some live happily with fish for years but you never know. they do make very interesting pets( i have 3 each in it's own tank) if you do decide to keep him give him lots of little rocks and shells and watch the construction begin theyr amazing little builders.
if you wanted to keep him in a seperate tank this species can live happily in a 5-10 gallon tank with or without reef lighting.

08/24/2012, 02:06 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes, it's a mantis. It will eat whatever it can catch. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/24/2012, 02:13 PM	#4
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Yes, yes it is. Try to trap it. You can trade for something at your LFS. Or just mail it to me!!!!! __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

08/24/2012, 03:50 PM	#6
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	That probably won't work. I caught one once in non-flavored carbonated water, mixed with salt to match the tank in a 5 gallon bucket. Get the temp of the water close to the display. Get another 5 gallon bucket and make water like you would for a water change. Remove a few pieces of rock from the tank and place it in the carbonated water for five minutes. After five minutes, move it to the other regular water. Store the rock there and keep going till you see the little guy in the bottom of the carbonated water bucket. If you know the rock he's in, it will go fast. If not, he'll be in the last rock, like mine was. After you catch him, put the rock back. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

08/24/2012, 02:10 PM	#3
mandarin_goby Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 844	thank goodness you found him before stocking the tank...hopefully that will make catching him easy. There's a mini-forum here with people who have tanks dedicated to these guys!

08/24/2012, 02:43 PM	#5
knickel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 22	So y'all think pull the rocks out put them on a towel and chase him down with a net?

08/24/2012, 04:10 PM	#7
gpx1200 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: spencer mass Posts: 552	the corals and nem will be fine with the mantis but any slow or bottom dwelling fish will be in danger, looks like you have a n. wennare mantis ther wich is a smasher and generaly prefers crabs and snails over fish, some live happily with fish for years but you never know. they do make very interesting pets( i have 3 each in it's own tank) if you do decide to keep him give him lots of little rocks and shells and watch the construction begin theyr amazing little builders. if you wanted to keep him in a seperate tank this species can live happily in a 5-10 gallon tank with or without reef lighting.