Mantis or Pistol Shrimp

eraml · Jul 14, 2020

Doing some quick reading - believe I have a Mantis Shrimp - pics and video attached.

How do I go about getting this out of my tank?
I have 2 clowns and 2 bangaii cardinals currently in the tank.

Like rock is KP Aquatics - have had it since mid May.

eraml · Jul 14, 2020

Video

Atomicus · Jul 14, 2020

I have kpmaquatics rock 50 lbs. it had BOTH mantis and pistol shrimps and they are still in tank. If you leave rock sitting on the white egg rate plastic over a 5 gallon bucket some tines the pistol shrimps come out but not the mantis shrimps.

eraml · Jul 15, 2020

Bump

Any input on if I have a Mantis or Pistol shrimp?
Advice on best way to catch it?

ReeferWarrant · Jul 15, 2020

Everything I have read says to remove the live rock and put it in a QT. If that's not possible there's a bottle trap you can make by inverting the top of the bottle to create a funnel aimed down (See Below). Place food inside at the base of the bottle and the shrimp wont be able to find the way it came in.

alton · Jul 15, 2020

Bottle trap works perfectly for mantis. Never had Pistol shrimp go into a bottle trap. The Mantis shrimp I have caught have been crushers, not spikers (or what ever name you give them)

TriggerFinger · Jul 15, 2020

I can’t see your video but I’ve had a pistol shrimp from KP rock for nearly 2 years and have never seen it. Hope the bottle trap works out for you, report back what you catch!

eraml · Jul 15, 2020

Weird - video is just from my iPhone. Maybe has to be downloaded? Have never posted video on here before.

Yesterday was the first time I saw the shrimp, had never seen it in the past 2 months.

I setup the bottle trap last night with some frozen fish food, but nothing this morning.
Seems like my nassarius snails ended up having a feast.

Will reload the trap with new food - does it make sense to reload during the day? Or just set it up over night?

ReeferWarrant · Jul 15, 2020

I feel like it needs to be near the hole it's hiding in, I want to say they hunt during the day. They are opportunistic though and wait for something to come near its den. That one looks like one from the Caribbean so it wont get massive like a peacock or the above mention spearing ones.

TriggerFinger · Jul 15, 2020

It’s probably not your video @eraml , I can’t see any videos from an iPhone unless a YouTube link is provided.

eraml · Jul 15, 2020

Thanks for the input/help

Know where he is hiding, just reset the trap with some fish pellets and mysis shrimp and placed by his rock.
Saw the little guy poking his head out from the his hole towards the trap, will see if he goes in.

45ZoaGarden · Jul 15, 2020

Make sure to post a pic when you get him! Even though they’re considered a pest in this hobby, they’re still pretty cool.

eraml said:
Thanks for the input/help

Know where he is hiding, just reset the trap with some fish pellets and mysis shrimp and placed by his rock.
Saw the little guy poking his head out from the his hole towards the trap, will see if he goes in.

eraml · Jul 15, 2020

Will do - it is quite small.
Went about halfway into the plastic bottle, but got scared and jolted out of there - so close!

45ZoaGarden · Jul 15, 2020

Mantis shrimp, which are actually amphipods, have incredible eyesight. They actually have the most complex eyesight on the planet. They’re also very skiddish. I’d leave the tank and check back in a few hours. He will make his way into the bottle when he feels safe. It’s like the jerks of the tank know when we want them gone and hide even more LOL

eraml said:
Will do - it is quite small.
Went about halfway into the plastic bottle, but got scared and jolted out of there - so close!

alton · Jul 15, 2020

I used a small piece of table shrimp

ReeferWarrant · Jul 15, 2020

Glad there’s hope and that it seems interested. I saw them free diving in Aruba, really interesting creatures and they are everywhere if you have a keen eye.