Mantis Shrimp Problem?

[KingFish]

While surfing I bumped into a site which is apparently dedicated to 'to those people interested in the study and care of stomatopods (mantis shrimps). '

And to think we're all trying to get rid of them

Anyways, they happen to have an article on how to dispose of them, I thought I might share it since there are quite a number with the pest problem.

Here's an extract:

Methods for Capturing Within the Tank:

Use live bait to lure it out, then use nets to capture it. This is the simplest technique, and yet may be the least reliable.

Use home-made traps to capture the mantis shrimp. One enterprising soul made a funnel-type apparatus by cutting out the top half of a small clear plastic bottle close to where the gradual slope turns to a straight line. He then inserted the top part into the lower half in an inverted position, and secured the whole apparatus by tying a fishing line around the neck of the top half and through a hole in the bottom. A piece of shrimp was secured inside the trap to serve as bait.

The Prairie Dog "Suction" Method

The exact location of the mantis shrimp's home cavity must first be determined, and the hose of a strong filter is then secured tightly over the hole. The system is left to run overnight, and the stomatopod is invariably found trapped inside the filter when morning comes.

In order to work, the mantis shrimp must be of a manageable size, the location of its hole must be precisely determined, and there must not be any other escape routes within the rock.

Competing Animals

*Use competing animals to control or remove the mantis shrimp. This is much more troublesome and less reliable than using traps, and may involve the temporary removal of other inhabitants out of the container. Unless the competing creature is significantly larger than the mantis shrimp, there's every chance that you're going to lose it instead.

- Trigger fishes

- Octopuses

- Pistol shrimps

- Sally Lightfoot Crabs

- Hawk Fishes

- Moray Eels with molar like teath such as the Snowflake or Zebra moray

*These are not recommended methods for mantis shrimp removal.

From: http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pest/catch.htm

[Achilles Tang]

What would be the easiest method would be to wait till the little monster has gone hiding in an accessible rock... and then lift the rock out and shake the him out... or use freshwater or soda water to flush him out.

Then you can make him tapdance on a hot saucepan.

[KingFish]

You got that right, apparently its a delicacy to some people; no point wasting it especially if its taken some of your prized fish, say an Achilles Tang?.....

[hongqixian]

Real rumor monger, aren't you