Mantis in SPS tanks

[IanJ]

After 18 months i noticed a mantis shrimp in my tank. Surprised i had not really noticed it before. It looked a little on the large size, a multi coloured specimum.

I have not seen it for several months. Tonight i was placing a piece of epoxy over some bryopsis between a sps and the rock, when out of the blue a large pair of fists came out of the gap and wacked me on the finger nail. The shock was bad enough, yet alone the hammer like blow to the finger. The next 3 hours were spent stripping down half the tank, the search was in vain. There goes all the colours on the sps again

Battle lines have been drawn, its days are numbered, time to strike back

[untouchables]

problem here is like bush hunting osama. except afgan is ur tank and the lr are the mountains and tunnels.

[riot]

post a wanted picture.

hunt the sucker down.

[yuji]

maybe you would like to consider using a crab trap to catch the mantis?

[minsmarine]

Welcome to the world of wonder.

I believe you have not lose any LS yet.

I had one in my tank b4 about 2" big, when he attack like electronic shock. Bad thing.

I pin point which LR he was in ( took about 2 days )

On the day of WAR, I make sure he was in the LR ( just after feeding time, this guy come out to get food as well ).

Remove the rock immidately by closing the entrance with Chopstick.

Thann......

Hope your is more easy to catch.

[IanJ]

This is a really clever one. Its avoided being seen for so long. Apart from the attack, i have only seen it once. It seems to live somewhere deep in the rockwork.

Maybe i should have an invitation mantis hunt, all participants walk away with a handful of frags

[minsmarine]

Haa Haa, Challenges want to take but lot of work bro, if your shrmip is deep in the rock in lower level of tank.

If no LS loss, than advise not to take him out.

[IanJ]

No live stock loss at this time, only snails. Just really worried about putting my hands in again and moving corals around. Fisherman's knickname for them is thumbsplitters, now i know why.

[tineng]

After 18 months i noticed a mantis shrimp in my tank. Surprised i had not really noticed it before. It looked a little on the large size, a multi coloured specimum.

I have not seen it for several months. Tonight i was placing a piece of epoxy over some bryopsis between a sps and the rock, when out of the blue a large pair of fists came out of the gap and wacked me on the finger nail. The shock was bad enough, yet alone the hammer like blow to the finger. The next 3 hours were spent stripping down half the tank, the search was in vain. There goes all the colours on the sps again

Battle lines have been drawn, its days are numbered, time to strike back

you lucky hand not swollen.....me had to see a doctor....

but not tearing the tank and decide to let it be......until i can set up my new tank....then take out all the rocks, leave it to dry and if i get hold of it......haik...haik...haik...

[Dispar_Anthias]

Luckily you just suffer some pain... fisherman dread them and call them thumb splitter

[minsmarine]

Ha Ha IanJ seem like you have no choice but to get this guy out of your tank..........

Need Help ?

[RAV-65]

Wah... wouldn't wan to be in ur shoes... Good luck bro!

[lvcap]

i just smashed and boiled one some weeks ago?

good luck pal!!

they are a bunch of resilient fellows...

[RAV-65]

i just smashed and boiled one some weeks ago?

good luck pal!!

they are a bunch of resilient fellows...

smash and still boil?? u worried the fella dun die??

[desbug13]

perhaps he doesnt want it go be a waste n eat it.

[RAV-65]

perhaps he doesnt want it go be a waste n eat it.

[minsmarine]

Me BAD LUCK,

Just saw new guy , but so small, no wonder keep hearing clicking noise and 1 of my Fire Shrimp gone MIA.

AGAIN.................

[Travy]

I caught mine after stripping down the whole tank.

Luckily mine's only a 2feeter. Abt 2" long, i must have been blind to have missed it!

Anyway, casualties are 1 juv bi color angel, 1 six line wrasse, 1 cleaner shrimp, some renagade crabs that comes with the liverocks (can see shattered shells on the sand bed...)

I juz cut him up and feed it to my remaining fishes and corals...

[Fuzz]

wow... you guys really got alot of adventure... I hope I don't get Mantis in my tank ... how do you check if there is a mantis??

... sure is tough to deal with... all the best for you...

[lvcap]

eat mantis shrimps?

eeks...i not so daring to try..

i used hot water from my shower head to try and lure it out mah..but it got boiled deep in the rock crevices..

had to smash the LR open to ensure its dead..

after that then i smashed in flat before throwing it away..

documented the pics in my thread ah..the hideous creature..

greedy pig lah...went for a chunk of ML's receipe..thats how i know of its existence..

[acura007]

lelong lelong.. who wants a 2" mantis? caught it just after i place in new LR. Had to strip down all rocks just to find it in the the last one..

Now still swimming in pail.. thrown in crabs to play with it.. crabs 0 mantis 4.

[zorden]

anyway to kill them fast?? use crab trap (mineral water version)

my tank is 3 ft in ht