missing tail and fish

[jc]

I just got back from a trip and I noticed that my adult size clown fish is missing his tail. He just has a tiny bit where the body makes a "U" if you follow his back. I am also missing the smaller clown fish. Another thing I have been noticing a few days before I left is that the tangs have torn fins. I recently added some new rock, but I started to notice these before the rock was put in. Could I have a predator in the tank? Could this be caused by my carpet anemone? Also the blue tang has a white patch on his side about a 1/4" round.

[blueboy]

sounds like a mantis shrimp, put a piece of red plastic over a flashlite, and search for him at night. it might take awhile in a 90.

[jc]

Will a mantis eat hermit crabs and snails? What about corals? What exactly do I do if it is a mantis? Can they be killed easily or do I have to break the tank down to catch him?

[hobogato]

they make mantis traps. you can try cutting the top off of a soda bottle, inverting it, and putting shrimp in it. leave it overnight and see if you catch anything

disclaimer: i plagerized (sp?) this from richard in another thread ;)

[blueboy]

i bet you'll catch all your hermits!

[jc]

it's worth a try.

[jc]

I have tried the soda bottle with the shrimp in it and so far I have catched nothing but crabs. Today I noticed that my clown fish is gone. Is there any fish that would eat a mantis? I have yet to see the mantis but I do hear a click sound every now and again at night.