Aaargh! Mantis Shrimp removal failed!

[wedgee]

"PANIC" I decided to rid my tank of the notorious mantis shrimp (1" in length) just in case anything were to eventually fall prey to it, and used the freshwater approach--

i took the rock out and sprayed freshwater into it's burrow, but it refused to come out after 2 minutes, and i was worried if the mushrooms and anemone on the rock were getting stressed out...I replaced the rock eventually, only to see in horror, the dastardly piece of shrimp swim out and disappear into another piece of rock!!! AAARGH!!! Now i dont even know where it is, and as if to show off its victory over a dumb human, it's started to make super loud and continuous 'pop' sounds in its new home!!!

Oh the 'thrills' of keeping a reef tank are endless....

Does anyone know wat kinda prey they go for? Anyone had any unpleasant experiences with them? I might consider getting a trap from LFS if it starts doing damage soon...any idea where to get?

[Tanzy]

If you know where the hole is, you can lure it out with a some tasty seafood like scallop meat, place an open pair of sharp scissors over the hole and when it comes out, snip, behead that bastard! Takes a few practice cause they are smart but you will get it one day.

[Achilles Tang]

LOL!

I used to have a mantis problem... i can't remember what method I used to catch the green monster... but I did it...!

He survived more than a week in a little container with no aeration, no food... very hardy!

The rock removal thing would be the best method... but use carbonated water instead to flush him out of his hole... its supposed to work!

[hongqixian]

Did you take a satay stick and stab stab stab stab?

[nivlac]

"PANIC" I decided to rid my tank of the notorious mantis shrimp (1" in length) just in case anything were to eventually fall prey to it, and used the freshwater approach--

i took the rock out and sprayed freshwater into it's burrow, but it refused to come out after 2 minutes, and i was worried if the mushrooms and anemone on the rock were getting stressed out...I replaced the rock eventually, only to see in horror, the dastardly piece of shrimp swim out and disappear into another piece of rock!!! AAARGH!!! Now i dont even know where it is, and as if to show off its victory over a dumb human, it's started to make super loud and continuous 'pop' sounds in its new home!!!

Oh the 'thrills' of keeping a reef tank are endless....

Does anyone know wat kinda prey they go for? Anyone had any unpleasant experiences with them? I might consider getting a trap from LFS if it starts doing damage soon...any idea where to get?

Why dun u try to purchase a mantis shrimp trap? I bought one from hong leong before.....no use for it now. Could sell it to u if you wan.

[Phang]

I caught 2 of these buggers before...

Both using the isolation method...

1) take the piece of rock where the shrimp is hiding in ...

2) place it in a isolation tank of salt water...

3) you can choose to wait for him to emerge from there or

4) take a satay stick or long thin object and poke into the hole that he was last in...

5) the mantis emerge.... you remove the rock...

Well, it works...

You remove the pest and can keep it if you as a pet if you want to...

if it's a Peacock Mantis.... I would glady lighten your burden....

BTW, the fresh water approach doesn't work... try it before.... everything else runs out except the mantis..

[Phang]

Does anyone know wat kinda prey they go for? Anyone had any unpleasant experiences with them? I might consider getting a trap from LFS if it starts doing damage soon...any idea where to get?

Well, it depends on what kind they are...

Smashers or Spearers.....

Smashers : Club like arms

These kind go after hard shelled creatures like crabs, snails where they smash open the hard shells and consume the fleshly remains..

Spearers : Arms with jagged edges very much like that found on Praying Mantis..

These kind go after fishes and soft body animals....

BTW, You most probably have a smasher.... spearers don't produce any sounds.....only signs that they are around= missing fishes and shrimps....

The only experience I have is the broken bodies of unwanted crabs in my tank ....

I think there is one more in my tank...

Also do take note that the Pistol shrimp produces similar "pop" sounds...

[loonz]

This is off topic but I just have to say - I HATE MANTIS SHRIMPS. Had some for dinner at Turf Club seafood restaurant before though, they are quite tasty, despite their notorious nature in reef aquariums.

[Tanzy]

They call it 'Pissing Prawns' in Hong Kong. Yes! Yum...

[Stenopus Hispidus]

They call it 'Pissing Prawns' in Hong Kong.

How coincidentally appropriate!!!

[TTBoy]

how abt irritating small crabs? How do u get rid of it?

[Hon]

Believe it or not.... I caught my mantis with a pincer when its perching on top of my rock structure. The poor fellow did not survive long in my microwave oven thou...

[Creetin]

i read b4 that target squirting the hole wif hot water helps, any of u guys tried it? i nvr had this problem (yet) and nvr wish to have one to deal wif! its kinda scary, these monsters.......

[Phang]

Maybe I will catch the mantis from my tank and place it in yours so you can try that method......

[wedgee]

WOW! Strange how such a small creature can attract so much attention and comments, heheh Anyways, i guess i dont really have to worry so much for now rite? Really dont wana risk collapsing my rock structure just to get to the bastard...

Maybe when things start disappearing or dying; that will be a different story...

BTW NIVLAC, how much u selling the trap for? Was it effective? Got pic to see? heheh...