Mantis Getting adventurous

[PeterEde]

 

[FMF0331]

So cool.
Always wanted one, I'm sure it'll destroy all my crustaceans in my reef tank

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Was the mantis a hitchhiker or is it there intentionally?

 

[PeterEde]

Was the mantis a hitchhiker or is it there intentionally?

It was a hitchhiker. Hopefully I've identified it correctly and it is a small species. Smithii

 

[PeterEde]

So cool.
Always wanted one, I'm sure it'll destroy all my crustaceans in my reef tank

I have 2 large shrimp it's not killed as yet but I often find dismembered crabs. So no ornamental crabs for me.
If I ever catch it I will put it in the sump

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

I hear the bait in bottle trap works well.

 

[TeeJay87]

I got 3 mantis hitchikers out pretty easily, but some luck is needed depending on which rock they make their home.

step 1: identify which rock the mantis has just hidden in and its entry point
step 2: put enough tank water into a bucket to cover the rock
step 3: take the rock out of tank and into bucket
step 4: lift rock and use a baster to spray water into the entry point until the mantis falls out into the bucket. You can start with the tank water, move to RO freshwater if needed, move to heated RO freshwater if needed.
step 5: donate to LFS

 

[PeterEde]

I got 3 mantis hitchikers out pretty easily, but some luck is needed depending on which rock they make their home.

step 1: identify which rock the mantis has just hidden in and its entry point
step 2: put enough tank water into a bucket to cover the rock
step 3: take the rock out of tank and into bucket
step 4: lift rock and use a baster to spray water into the entry point until the mantis falls out into the bucket. You can start with the tank water, move to RO freshwater if needed, move to heated RO freshwater if needed.
step 5: donate to LFS

I'm happy to keep. In sump

 

[Dave1993]

i have had a hitchhiking crab for 2 years only comes out when the room is pitch black kills all my snails

 

[JGT]

I got 3 mantis hitchikers out pretty easily, but some luck is needed depending on which rock they make their home.

step 1: identify which rock the mantis has just hidden in and its entry point
step 2: put enough tank water into a bucket to cover the rock
step 3: take the rock out of tank and into bucket
step 4: lift rock and use a baster to spray water into the entry point until the mantis falls out into the bucket. You can start with the tank water, move to RO freshwater if needed, move to heated RO freshwater if needed.
step 5: donate to LFS

Seems the mantis know about this and don’t cooperate with step #3. They are always on the bottom of my reef so removing rock isn’t and option. Luckily I’ve gotten quite adept with my tweezers and have bagged 2 of them.

 

[PeterEde]

I got 3 mantis hitchikers out pretty easily, but some luck is needed depending on which rock they make their home.

step 1: identify which rock the mantis has just hidden in and its entry point
step 2: put enough tank water into a bucket to cover the rock
step 3: take the rock out of tank and into bucket
step 4: lift rock and use a baster to spray water into the entry point until the mantis falls out into the bucket. You can start with the tank water, move to RO freshwater if needed, move to heated RO freshwater if needed.
step 5: donate to LFS

I did a dip in RO water and forgot the GSP that was on it. Mantis didnt budge and there GSP didnt open for weeks. a fair bit died back

 

[TeeJay87]

I did a dip in RO water and forgot the GSP that was on it. Mantis didnt budge and there GSP didnt open for weeks. a fair bit died back

Agree, don’t dip the whole rock in RO water. I just mean that you fill the baster with tank water for a few tries, if no success try RO freshwater in the baster, if no success try some heater RO freshwater. You are just spraying the baster into the holes in the rock. Mine all came out easily this way.

 

[PeterEde]

Agree, don’t dip the whole rock in RO water. I just mean that you fill the baster with tank water for a few tries, if no success try RO freshwater in the baster, if no success try some heater RO freshwater. You are just spraying the baster into the holes in the rock. Mine all came out easily this way.

If I had id'd it correctly he's not going to grow much more. It can stay where it is till it annoys me.
I see it more out and about now

 

[Hadla]

Seems the mantis know about this and don’t cooperate with step #3. They are always on the bottom of my reef so removing rock isn’t and option. Luckily I’ve gotten quite adept with my tweezers and have bagged 2 of them.

You’ll never catch me alive, coppers!