Mantis

[Droth]

Oh Joy What Luck. NOT!!! I've just spent the last hour or so watching a Mantis Shrimp in my tank. I did not know that they will pick up pieces of crushed coral and use them to block the entrance to their den. Very neat to watch but it has got to go. I have my trap set. Wish me luck. Any encouraging thoughts would be appreciated.

[ruhspolostar]

Oh I had a bout with a Sally Lightfott, took me 2 months to catch....but man when you catch it you feel like Rocky or like Derek Fisher with .4 seconds left,

btw any plans for the mantis after you catch him, they make awesome pets when kept alone....

-adam

[ruhspolostar]

I made it out of an old garlic jar or somethjing like that

[Droth]

Not sure what I am going to do with it when I catch it. Probably will go to the sump. This is the second one I've had in the tank the first one took two days to catch this time I don't think I am going to be so lucky. I made my trap out of one of those water tube things that the the florest puts on the ends of cut flowers. And baited with cocktail shrimp.

[mapster]

Are you sure its a mantis? That behaviour sounds more like a pistol shrimp.

[Droth]

Nope not a pitol shrimp. Spent several hours watching this critter, just several inches away from my nose. I also observed it carrying small bits of shells and such into it's den. Thinking what is it doing, decorating? Than when the lights on that end of the tank went out it started pushing all the stuff that it just dragged into it's hole back out the opening. Very busy little critter. It's about 1.5" long maybe a bit longer, a motteled greenish white translusent color with a single darker stripe down the center. Eyes are on stalkes and sit above the body. I will try to get a picture of him tonight.