Mantis? Good or bad

**ScooterB** · 05-23-2009, 08:38 AM

Hi
I have been watching this little critter in my tank for a few days sticking its eyes out of a hole in a rock, then yesterday it came out.:eek:
It was about 1 1/2 lond dark green and very very fast and looked very much like a mantis.
I have read about them and heard so many scary stories. Should i worry oand try and get the little blitter out or leave him. Tried to get a pic but unfortunatly havnt got a good enough camera.

Cheers
Kev

**Macca** · 05-23-2009, 09:04 AM

depends, The smashers natural food is hermit crabs, snails etc. The spearer is more fish.

They are predators so they need to eat so something must give.

The one you have may stay small (rock mantis) or grow large. Just keep an eye on your stock, and make your own judgement. Crustaceans as a whole have to be watched and many shrimp are prone to canabilistic / carnivore tendencies.

**Gizmo** · 05-25-2009, 08:45 AM

Definitely sounds like mantis to me. I inherited a brownish coloured one of similar size. I was finding that hermits and snails were going missing, even hermits walking round in battered shells so it took some doing but I eventually managed to rehome mine.

**ScooterB** · 05-27-2009, 02:44 PM

Great looks like ive got some serious hunting coming up, I think i know the rock wheres he living, any ideas on how to get him out.?

**clownfish57** · 05-27-2009, 04:15 PM

If you know which rock it is in remove the rock and you can get rid of it this way only if it does not cause to much distruption inyour tank i had about 10 of the little blitters and they where eating all my snails and hermet crabs

**Gizmo** · 05-27-2009, 04:23 PM

They are clever and it took me 6 months to entice him into a trap. Couldn't pull out the rock as it was a supporting rock right at the bottom. One of the crab/snail traps with lance fish as bait eventually got him.