Mantis shrimp - get rid of it?

PR Harbin · May 19, 2016

Recently I posted a question about what's eating my snails. A few people said I might have a mantis shrimp. Well... I didn't think so at the time and figured it was probably the hermit crabs like other people said. However, I just noticed today, peeking out of a hole in the rock, a critter I haven't seen before that I'm pretty sure (based on the pics I looked up here) is a mantis shrimp.

So here's my question - do I need to get rid of him? If so, how?

Thanks!
PR

CastAway · May 20, 2016

You can trap them, but it takes patience.

Scottsquatch · May 20, 2016

Is his den in one peice of rock? if so, just wait till hes in there and take the whole rock out. They are pretty cool animals in their own right. You should consider putting him in your sump or in his own tank. They make excellent aquarium inhabitants, in the right conditions. Good luck.

ritter6788 · May 20, 2016

If you can see it go into a rock just remove the whole rock. If you can set it over a bucket of water the mantis will sometimes jump out on it's own. Best just to set up it's own tank or move it to your sump if you have one. They are great pets.

Scottsquatch · May 20, 2016

Great minds Gabe...

PR Harbin · May 22, 2016

Thanks for the suggestions! I did track him to his rock and took the whole rock out and put it down in the sump, which is spacious. We'll see how he adapts...