Fish killer

[DeletedAccount]

When we got that rock a few months ago a few of us had some murdering little hitchhikers on it. Were they mantis or mantid? Who cares what they are called... I am ready to kill the little monster and cannot get him! My neon goby disappeared a few weeks ago and this morning I saw the little murderer trying to sneak up on my Bicolor Blenny! This mantis thing will get caught and killed today! Question is... how to get him? The rock that he ran into is sitting in freshwater and I have not seen him come out. I took ALL the rock out of the tank (the 29 gal) and am trying to find his hide out. What will get rid of him?

[Janice]

I have heard of some people who could not get a mantis out via FW or high SG using club soda, although I don't think there would be anything left alive on the rock after that.

Maybe a high salinity dip (1.030)? Or you can try taking a turkey baster and shooting FW into all the holes in the rock.

??

[DeletedAccount]

I finally found the old post where we were discussing killing these guys. So, I should not be using freshwater but REALLY high salinity water? Are we talking about dipping the rock or letting it sit in there for a while, overnight? Will the mantis skitter out or die in the hole? I want to be sure that I do not let him back into my tank alive. I think that he is sitting in the rock in freshwater munching on my Bicolor right now :cry:

[Tim Marvin]

You can dip the rock in a high salinity dip like 1.034-1.036. This will cause the little rascals to jump out. Fresh water will also kill it, but the rock will die to. I wasn't sure why you guys were getting so excited about having these critters to start with...... I'm sorry to hear about your loss, but maybe this will help others to consider the rock they purchase. Florida rock is known to have good populations or mantis and pistol shrimp. These are very smart shrimp and remember if you try to trap them and miss. You usually don't get a second try. You can use a PVC pipe with holes drilled in it and a cap on the end to catch them. Put a little food in the end and when they go in you have to catch them the first time so cover the end tightly, and fast, with your net.

[DeletedAccount]

The little monster won't come out of the rock! He doesn't seem to mind mega saline water! Now what?

[TexasState]

Are you sure it's the correct rock that he lives in?

[DeletedAccount]

I did EVERY rock that is in my 29 gallon, even the little bitty ones.

[DeletedAccount]

Good luck!

So, if I killed him with the fresh water then he may just be dead in the rock, right? Think I could be that lucky?

[swedige]

I had one in my tank a few years back that I was finally able to remove by figuring out which rock it lived in, and dropping it into another tank. It was a fascinating pet once I put it in its own tank. Used to feed him live ghost shrimp and watch him attack. Far more fun than watching him prey on your expensive fish, including the fridmani I lost to him. An expensive meal at the time.

[TexasState]

Would an eel be able to eat your mantis?