Possible Mantis but unsure

LagunaGlide · Mar 30, 2018

While at work today my wife called me and said she saw one of our emeralds on it's back and an orange small bug looking thing on top of it. She couldn't get a pic due to it being under a rock. I have been hearing a click sound every now and again, but didn't think it was loud enough for a mantis. She said it looked like a pill bug. Could it be something other than a mantis? My clowns always stay towards the top of the tank, so now I wonder if they don't come down due to fear of being attacked. Thoughts appreciated planning to setup a trap tonight.

clover128 · Mar 30, 2018

a picture if possible....

KJ · Mar 30, 2018

A pistol shrimp perhaps?

SAPPER · Mar 30, 2018

My first thought on the description of a pill bug would be a Chiton.

madweazl · Mar 30, 2018

Orange colorations and description of a pill bug are consistent with mantis and the clicking noise also matches a mantis that would prey on crab (smasher).

SAPPER · Mar 30, 2018

Are we all on the same pill bug here

LagunaGlide · Mar 30, 2018

Steve Barrett said:
a picture if possible....

She went to grab a light to get a better pic and it moved away.

SAPPER said:
My first thought on the description of a pill bug would be a Chiton.

madweazl said:
Orange colorations and description of a pill bug are consistent with mantis and the clicking noise also matches a mantis that would prey on crab (smasher).

SAPPER said:
Are we all on the same pill bug here

Ya that's the pill bug, but if you were to see a mantis just from behind for example the back end could resemble that.

SAPPER · Mar 30, 2018

If it moved away at speed with the light it probably is a Mantis then.

LagunaGlide · Mar 30, 2018

She said she just came back it wasn't there. She has now sent me 4 pictures, but all are very blurry. I sent her pics of a mantis and she thinks it is. Only thing you make out in the pics is an odd orange blob in the rock.

SAPPER · Mar 30, 2018

Typical wife photos of the aquarium lol, my wife sends me the same

LagunaGlide · Mar 30, 2018

I know there are bad isopods that can be found in our tanks. Any of them happen to be orange?

LagunaGlide · Mar 30, 2018

Well I am home now, and attempted to investigate myself, but don't see anything. I found the dead crab, but that is all

reef lover · Mar 30, 2018

Lure him out with food

sfin52 · Mar 31, 2018

Red light may help late at night

LagunaGlide · Mar 31, 2018

The case is solved! After the tank lights went out I waited a few hours and went to the tank. I shined a bright LED into the hole with a red filter. I couldn’t see well, so I removed the filter and saw a fairly large bristle worm pulling shrinking away due to the light. CrAb carcass still there. I’d say over the phone panic and not being sure what she was seeing led to some confusion and exaggeration.

Thanks All. Crisis averted.

sfin52 · Mar 31, 2018

You may still have a mantis or pistol shrimp in the tank. The bristle worms feed on dead things. You hearing loud clicks in the tank is a possible sign of on of those guys in the tank. They can be very elusive as well. There are some great homemade traps that may help you.

DoobDob · Apr 1, 2018

How do you get a mantis shrimp out?

AllTheCorals · Apr 1, 2018

Scare it into a rock. Remove the rock into a bucket with fishing line on the rock. As soon as you see it leave the rock, yank the rock out quick. I use this method for removing small fish too. Wrasses and gobies rarely swim into traps.