Identify This PLEASE

[BradMugs]

I wish I had a picture but I don't. I was spending part of my Presidents day cleaning my tank. Taking one of my pre-filters out of the overflow I noticed something moving - not strang as it's usually full of bugs but this one was about 25 mm long and about 1 mm wide. It looked like a centaped with legs running along it's length with a fan shapped tail. It was mostly transparent with dark stripes running across it's body. It was begining to look stressed so I put it back into the tank. One of the clowns grapped it and spit it out started to go after it again and didn't.

Thanks

[Jason S]

Bristle worm, maybe? Pics would help. I have seen a Eunice worm that sort of sounded the same as your description, but it was MUCH larger that 25mm.

[BradMugs]

I've been surfing and it looks like a Mantis but it's been a LONG LONG time (about a year) sense I've added anything to my tank as far a rocks - I did add a clam but unless it was a hitchhiker with that or it can take a year to hatch their eggs I don't think it could be that could it?

[Jason S]

I found a very large peanut worm in my tank when I had not added anything for about 4 years, so it can happen. I also found some bristle worms after the same time frame.

If it is a mantis Shrimp, I would get it out as soon as possible with a trap. I have seen larger ones put a hurting on people's fingers. Did it look furry? Hard exoskeleton? Soft body, etc?

[Jason S]

Hey, I saw thegrun post this earlier, and I thought it would help:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

[BradMugs]

Thanks Jason this appears to be it

http://museumvictoria.com.au/crust/mov1662t.html

It says its a preditor. I guess I need to do some research and it probably wasn't too smart to release it. My 25 mm guess was about right they reach 20 mm in lenght..

Anyone know anything about this?