Found a Mantis - Arghhh

[Macca]

After inspecting ever piece of liverock that went into my display tank I have found two bad critters in the last fortnight. Cant believe this as I gave each rock a good inspection. First up was the Xanthid crab, but last night I was totally gobsmacked I found a Mantis shrimp.

I was alerted to this by all the royal grammas surrounding a piece of live rock. They were busy ducking and diving looking under it. To my amazement I then saw the shrimp keeping a close eye or two on them. Arggghhhh

Shrimp hunting today!

James

[Kev]

Bad luck. Hope you get the little demon out of there ok!

[Pinkfish]

Bad luck james, but on the other hand you have 2 options.

1- find it a stir fry it
2- donate it to Gillbaby who seems to be running a mantis shelter.

Mike

[callum_parsons]

that is unlucky mate

iam so glad my liverock had nothing bad on it exceprt for the 1 aipesta

[MR Teee]

James, get some pics of it quick -I think Mantis shrimps are great.

[Macca]

will do when I find the bugger. I think he may have taken out a small royal Gramma. :mad:

James

[Kev]

The little sod. Will this one be lucky enough to find a home when you catch it? Or is it stir fry in the wok?

[Macca]

No it will get a new home. Dont Know if Gillys shelter is open but I am sure someone will have him, that is if I find him. Not seen him today :eek:

James

[callum_parsons]

it amazes me how they can just dissapear

[Gillybaby]

After all that time you spent hunting for a mantis shrimp for me and you had one in your tank all along - doh !!!!

In all honesty though, once you manage to catch the wee guy please take some pics and post them on here for me. Ian says we have space in the sump so would be happy to take him off your hands, depending on species :D

We love these guys ;)

[Macca]

Well shrimp hunting stated around midnight, At 3 am he appeared as normal in the same location, My plan was to remove the liverock that I just set up last month until I got to his den. I removed all the liverock that surrounded the rock where he always appeared (Thinking he had his burrow there). I then woke my nephew up who was staying in my house to help me with the capture. The last rock was slowly taken out and hey presto ther was many decent sizr holes were he could be. After a quick inspetion no Mantis was to be found.

My nephew then said is he about this size (measuring about 1.5 inch) red and a real fast swimmer. I replied yes. Well it turns out as soon as the rock was lifted my nephew saw him dart a full 3 feet in a second and hide behind other liverock.

The pros : I found that hairy beast crab and I never liked the aquascaping where the rocks were removed.

The Cons : I am not removing the other side of the tanks rock as I like the look of the rock work.

What next: I am setting up a trap that will hopefully catch the little *******

James

[Gillybaby]

lol - I told you they were intelligent beasties :D

Here's a link to Dr Roy's id site if you want to have a look and try and id him...once you catch him that is:

Dr Roy's List of Stomatopods for the Aquarium (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/)

Probably easier for you to do this rather than try and post a picture. Would still be willing to take it off your hands though, if you have no-one else interested.

[oakwell]

james i hope you where sober whilst you did this?:)

Hope you get him pal

[Macca]

I have decided to strip the whole tank down (200 gallon +) tomorrow

:mad:

James

[Kev]

Blimey, thats a real ball ache!!! Feeling very sorry for you there mate!

[oakwell]

thats not good pal...i dont envy you at all, hope it all works out in the end and you get him.

Keep us posted

[Gillybaby]

Yup, not good at all. Good luck James, I hope you find it.

[callum_parsons]

I have decided to strip the whole tank down (200 gallon +) tomorrow

:mad:

James

thats got to suck
be careful with your back james

[MR Teee]

Hey James - Look on the bright side, at least you can get the aquascaping exactly how you want it.

[Macca]

Hopefully you will be viewing a photo of the wee bugger tomorrow

James

PS Kev you have certainly found another gear now!!!

[Macca]

No photo as yet; The wee bugger is impossible to catch. I am not staying up tonight but intend to get up early in the morning. Watch this space!!! (Evil Smiley face)

James

[Tetley]

Any news on the little fella ?

[Macca]

sorry no, slept in. But I am going shrimp hunting in an hour :D

James

[flying Jock]

If you get him i will give it a home if you struggle to get rid!

Good luck and mind those thumbs!;)

FJ

[callum_parsons]

have fun james:D

[Macca]

Tank now completely empty - No mantis.

So either

a. He is in the liverock I removed
b. He is hiding in the closed loop ducts.
c. I never saw a mantis in the first place and I am having the dts since I stopped drinking.

James

[Gillybaby]

I bet he's sitting in a hole in a bit of liverock pointing at you and laughing :D

At least, that's what ours is currently doing ;)

[callum_parsons]

how about a freshwater dip just to make sure

[Macca]

No sign of him so all rocks are going back in today. I have lost more inverts/corals pulling everything apart than what the mantis will do :o So I will just need to keep tabs on livestock. Removed a few hairy and 1 teddy bear crab so not all is bad., plus I found 1 more royal gramma so only 1 has fell victim.

James

[Tetley]

At least he kept you busy :)

[Gillybaby]

Oh well, it was worth a try. If he becomes more active it might be worth trying a trap. But I think he will make a nice invert addition to your tank ;)

[callum_parsons]

that sounded like a bit of a mission james.
maybe u did imagine it:D

[Kev]

I cannot see James being kind to this little blighter if he get caught? Frustration often brings forth a hammer! lol.:p

[callum_parsons]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_2_10.gif its like psycho all over again except with shrimps and a hammer

[Kev]

Bang on Callum.

[Macca]

I have got half the live rock in the tank, will do the other half tomorrow. I swear I heard a click click click comming from the tank :mad:

James

[Artyspider]

So come on James what happened?
Clare ;)

[Macca]

Never found the bugger. Put all rocks back in and never seen him since. The little royal gramma (have a few but this one is only a baby) that I thought had fell victim to the Mantis reappeared a few weeks later :D So to date I have a few shells that I suspect he has had the insides but I will just have to let him life his life as they are near impossible to catch unless you know what rock they are in.

James

[Artyspider]

Oh well at lest it isn't so bad :) Thank you for letting us know.
Clare ;)

[Macca]

You are welcome I forgot all about this post :D

On another note:

I might have been seeing things as I believe this was during my off the booze period! :p

James