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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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06-08-2004, 05:59 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Azle, Tx
Posts: 1,544
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How did you catch your Mantis?
I now know for sure that I have a little green mantis shrimp inside a 8" dia rock that is covered with zoos and palyzoos. After reading through the archieves I decided to try dipping it in extra salty water (sg. 1.030) but that has not worked. I have the rock isolated right now but it will have to go back in the tank soon if I want to preserve the corals. Is there any sure method of extracting these critters other than using traps? I will try a trap if it comes down to it, but I would rather get it out more quickly if possible. Any recommendations, tricks or tips?  PS, I would like to capture it alive.
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06-08-2004, 06:49 PM
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#2
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2008 Super Bowl Champs :)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Vancouver,WA
Posts: 342
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Since you want him alive, borrowing a Trigger is out.LOL.Build a shelf just above the water line of a holding tank.(eggcrate works great) PLace the rock on top of it.The mantis will drop into the water after a bit.You can place a soaked piece of newspaper or paper towel over the zoos if youd like, they will be fine.HTH
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06-09-2004, 12:30 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Azle, Tx
Posts: 1,544
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Thanks B(reef), I'll give it a try!
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06-09-2004, 12:34 AM
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#4
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: South Cali
Posts: 1,541
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I had a friend who borrowed a panther groper to rid his tank of rogue damsels
I know....immoral
but hillarious
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06-09-2004, 06:53 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Azle, Tx
Posts: 1,544
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Well, that didn't work.  After about 2 hours out of the water over a dish of water, no mantis. I'm pretty sure it was in there cause I would hear a light tapping coming from the rock.
Anywhoo... the rock is now inside a gallon milkjug with the top cut off, sitting at the halfway point on top of a glass, and the jug/rock/mantis is back in the tank. My hope is that the mantis will leave the rock for a tasty shrimp pellet on the bottom and not be able to get back up to its rock or climb out of the milk jug. I heard it popping away in there after lights out so he made it through the dry time with no problems. We shall see......  |
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06-10-2004, 09:36 AM
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#6
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squid
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 2
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I would try using an air compressor if you have one. Blast a shot of air in his hole. If no ac, then a bicycle pump with one of those long nozzles for filling up soccer balls or whatever. Stick that thing right in the hole and pump away.
Could also try a little cold, freshwater in a syringe.
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06-10-2004, 02:49 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Azle, Tx
Posts: 1,544
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Dehalorespire,
Welcome to TRT! Thanks for the suggestions. I tried icewater already but no luck. The air might work but other than an aquarium air pump I don't have a compressed air source. I don't think the low pressure air pump would work on this rock anyway. It is basically a hollow sphere with many holes/diffussion like a very large pore sponge. My main worry is I don't want to kill off the zoos on the rock so I'm cautious about using some methods - if not for them, I would stick the rock in soda water until the mantis either bails out or dies. I would rather catch the mantis alive but if it comes to it, dead will work too.
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06-11-2004, 12:13 PM
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#8
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squid
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 2
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No pump, eh? Im sure you got lungs; then all you need is a coffee straw. He'll get irritated and come out of his hole. If not, then maybe try to tease him out with some food on tweezers. Hold the rock upsiedown and shake him off balance into a bucket or whatever. Then  I felt like superman after I got another out last week...But not before he wiped out my entire clean-up crew.
He is in a makeshift fuge now and one of my favorites.  |
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06-12-2004, 03:41 PM
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#9
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Reef Yahooligan
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Odenton, MD
Posts: 1,184
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The corals make it more difficult. My buddy and mentor upgraded his tank and had purchased more LR, but got a nasty hitchhiker as well. On advice from here, I had him blast the hole with fresh water and the shrimp bailed, but went back in a second later. He submerged the rock in fresh water for about 5 minutes and the dead mantis fell out when he retrieved it. I don't recommend that for the corals. Can you partially submerge him in fresh without getting the corals in? Again, putting a piece of saltwater wet newspaper over the corals?
Be fortunate you have him in one rock, the Mantis sometimes will escape to another rock.
WG
__________________
 Scott
- My Tank - 65G Plenum 80lbs LR 5G HOB CPR Fuge, 2x175W HQI w/2x65W Actinics, Prizm Pro - My Gallery
- My Nano - 8G Oceanic BioCube - Fish and Rock and Corals oh MY! - Pix Updated
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06-12-2004, 07:21 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Azle, Tx
Posts: 1,544
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I still have the rock isolated (I hope!) in the milkjug. When I'm ready to drag it out again I think I'll have to get aggressive with it. I'll try blowing air into it first and if that doesn't work I will partially submerge in fw and pump a stream of fw into the holes on the top of the rock. If that does not work, and I later see the mantis in the rock again, I may just see if I can sell it to a local who wants a mantis. I'd love to set up a mantis nano, myself, but just don't have room for another tank-even a small one. ....and the saga continues! |
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