Just Spotted the First Mantis, and a BIG one!

[HowardW]

The rock has been in the tank for about 16 hrs. now, and I just took a glance at the tank and a LARGE mantis stuck his head out and made a loud click and a piece of the rock broke away.

This sucker looks BIG.....from what I could tell his head looked like a combo of dark green and red.

[HowardW]

Hehe.......got him! A big fat dark green and red one. Put him in a tupperware and brought him over to my LFS and he was glad to take him. Surprisingly enough, a very small gorilla crab also came out of the same hole.

Hopefully he was the only one.....we'll see.

[RunnerFL]

wow cool, I took the mantis I found to my LFS and asked if they wanted it. They acted as if I was carrying the plague and said no.

[Ikaria]

I guess I'm keeping mine. Got some free shrimp from the local Publix seafood dept. Turns out the guy there has a reef tank too! So now my mantis are fat and happy.

[HowardW]

Geeeeez, mantis shrimp #2 just reared his head out of another large rock today. This one looks a bit smaller and a rusty color red..........oh well, here we go again!

[rupnow]

how did you catch him? I just found the first one in mine. I heard him since we put the rocks in and finally found him tonight. I made a trap but I am not very confident thats going to work.

[HowardW]

The traps can be hit and miss, my home made bottle trap didn't work either. The one one way remove them for sure is to simply remove the rock and physically extract them from their hiding place.

[30mini]

You catch that other Mantis HowardW?? I'm lookin for one if you are willing to ship!

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7067474#post7067474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 30mini
You catch that other Mantis HowardW?? I'm lookin for one if you are willing to ship!


Nope, haven't caught the little bugger yet, haven't seen or heard him in the past week or so either.

[Grand Wazoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7067670#post7067670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Nope, haven't caught the little bugger yet, haven't seen or heard him in the past week or so either.

Chuck a piece of a smelly raw fish in your tank--the smell will lure him out.

[rupnow]

As I suspected, my trap has trapped nothing.

Last night I chased him out of his hole with a bamboo kebab stick. He held tight for the longest time and then shot out so fast that my wife thought he flew out of the tank. Unfortunately she was wrong. He's still there.

He's moved to a different hole right in front of the tank. Of course, his new lair is on one of the cornerstones of the aquascape, so its not coming out. He's not shy and a lot of fun to watch. Now I'm debating whether to keep him in for a while. Do you think that if I feed him regularily, he'll leave the other critters alone?

[tspfish]

I got the first half of my package last Friday and Sunday spotted a mantis.

This is my third package from TBS and I learned two things about mantis shrimp, 1) they are really fast so you have to play their game and that is that they are agressive. I bought one of those grabber tools that you use to reach into places you cannot get your fingers into in a car engine. Then I stuck it outside the hole he resides in and he will attack it. Every mantis I have ever had with these packages has attacked it too. Then just as he try's to stab at it you squeze the tool and snach him, I caught two this way. They are really fast so it will take practice. Then there is; 2) find the rock he is in and take it out of the tank and shake it till he falls out, sometimes you have to dig for him a little but be carefull though because even though the rock and him are out of water he can and will still try to stab at you.

The way I got the mantis out in the package I have now was to take the rock he was in out and dug him out with my grabber tool, and yes he did stab at my glove I had on too, good thing I had it on. hope this helps.

Happy hunting :)

Tom

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7019458#post7019458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Geeeeez, mantis shrimp #2 just reared his head out of another large rock today. This one looks a bit smaller and a rusty color red..........oh well, here we go again!



I just saw mine last night but it wouldn't come out under the rocks and the diameter is 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch and about 2 1/2 inches long. MY other rocks and critters will be coming in 2 weeks, do you guys think the mantis will be able to break the shells of the snails and hermit craps and eat the other critters that comes with the package.

Thanks.

[HowardW]

<<< do you guys think the mantis will be able to break the shells of the snails and hermit craps and eat the other critters that comes with the package. >>>



Yep, if he's hungry.

[flameangel88]

Thanks for the reply.

He was difficult to get as each time I lifted the rock he dash to the next rock. After an hour of finding him finally got him. Looks very innocent and I can't imagine what can do but I can't take that chance.

[HowardW]

Ok......just got mantis number 2 outa there! This guy put up quite a fight too. Hopefully I am mantis free now, LOLOL.

[tspfish]

Were you able to use the grabber tool.

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7104643#post7104643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tspfish
Were you able to use the grabber tool.


No, I had to end up just removing that rock and physically extracting him.

[rupnow]

TSPfish, your grabber tool suggestion worked beautifully!!

The mantis in these rocks are full of attitude. Confronted with somethng in front of their hole they will attack over and over. If they cant kill it (couldn't kill my Sears Craftsman) they will try to escape.... and Bam......In the claws.

Thanks for the tip. It saved the lives of many a hermit crab.

Now I will find a home for Mr. Mantis where he can eat silversides and shrimp instead of my hermits.

[tspfish]

I've accually found that to be the fastest and easiest way if it is at all possible. Plus it lets the aquarium be a little less stressfull to you which is what we all want. I am getting ready for my second half of my package lets hope no mantis :)

[rupnow]

Good luck with Part 2. I had no Mantis in part 1. But then, it was only about 25 lbs of rock. Interestingly, 3 gorillas in part 1 and only 1 in part 2 (that I have found). unfortunately, they dont give themselves away with that constant clicking. If they did, I'd nail 'em with that grabber.

Cheers!

[techreef]

Can anyone please post a pic of their "grabber" tools? I'll be ordering 180 lbs of TBS rock within the next month, and i'm sure I'll be battling mantis shrimp too. I live a clean life, but 180 lbs of rock has a lot of hiding places!

[HowardW]

here it is:


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00941322000&subcat=Automotive+Specialty+Tools

[techreef]

Thanks Howard. Do you have any concerns re: putting a metal tool into your saltwater tank? And is this little guy for sale in the brick and mortar stores, or just online? Sounds like an invaluable mantis-whacker!

[flameangel88]

It's been 2 weeks since I received part 2 and could get the mantis out. Initially he was only in one rock but ever since I tried to get him out it's been all over the place. I love to move things around but ever since I found out the mantis is in there I don't go in as often and more concern on adding things in. Every time I don't see a fish (I haven't seen the lawnmover since the day I put in which was 9 days ago) or shrimp (this morning I didn't see the pistol shrimp that I put in last night but could be under rocks).

Ever since I tried to get the mantis it doesn't come out that much anymore sa it's moch more difficult to get now.

[liverock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7105921#post7105921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
No, I had to end up just removing that rock and physically extracting him.

Which is the BEST way to go about it!
TBS

[rupnow]

By the way, the mantis shrimp I caught with the grabber is just fine and livng happily in his new home. He was adopted by a co-worker for her office aquarium.