how to catch a mantis??? and what eats hydroids

[copperband]

Ok i have a 55 gallon reef tank and i recently found a mantis shrimp in one of my rocks well i finally got him out of that rock and now hes hiding somewhere else so i was wondering how to catch him or if their is any fish or invertibrate that will eat him. Also i think i might have hydroids in my tank so i was wondering what will eat them thanks.

[BIGBIRD123]

soak your finger in garlic and krill and just hang in it the tank...you find the mantis....LOL....J/K

I'm sorry I needed a laugh...

S

[copperband]

i have heard of introducing a trigger to eat them but the only problem is i have to other shrimps in their that arent bad are their any triggerfish or other fish that will only eat mantis shrimp

[RayAllen]

i have heard of introducing a trigger to eat them but the only problem is i have to other shrimps in their that arent bad are their any triggerfish or other fish that will only eat mantis shrimp

Bad info, I mantis could easily take out a small trigger. They make traps especially for catching them. Do a search and im sure you will find them somewhere through a older thread.

[copperband]

thanks Ray ill do that

[chapel210]

I caught my crab that was eating my fish, but when I found the rock it was in, I just took out the rock, and pulled him out. Seemed easy enough for him, might work for the mantis if you figure out which one it's in. I might buy it from you if you get it...I need to hurry up and set up my 10 gallon tank.

[copperband]

i think tommarow im going to throw in some ghost shrimp and i think im going to make a trap tonight and try and catch it i will let you no David

[erikharrison]

Best method is manual removal from what I have read, particularly on www.wetwebmedia.com (http://www.wetwebmedia.com)... You should go check it out, there are tons of great articles and FAQ.

[copperband]

ok i'll check it out as well

[MissT]

So I know it sounds crazy, but I've heard people that SWEAR by using raw bacon in a fish trap (homemade or the like) to catch them 30 minutes to 1 hour after lights out...
Good Luck!

[copperband]

he seems to like squid brine shrimp and that type of stuff but i will try almost anything i dont want to loose anything my coral banded shrimp just grew his second claw back.

[MissT]

It will like ANYTHING meaty, your fingers included! The bacon thing was something I heard from other people with the same problem. I've been fortunate to not have incountered this problem, my rock or any at the store, and cant say for myself what works... just what I've heard in the past.
I'm sure you are aware they pack a hefty punch so watch yourself if using a homemade coke bottle trap; he'll be able to punch through it faster than you'd ever believe.

[copperband]

ok he looks like a centipede he is so ugly

[chapel210]

I also heard that raising your salinity to about 30 or a bit higher will get them out of the rock, but this method is best used before you put the rock in your tank. You can pick out what you want in the bucket, and get rid of the bad things inside.

[RayAllen]

ok he looks like a centipede he is so ugly

centipede? Never heard them described thay way. Are you 100% sure its a mantis shrimp? Heres a few pics of mantis shrimp for reference. Not all are as colorful, but when you say centipeded that sounds more like one of the many large worms you can get in Live Rock.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/dansnark/Mantis.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/Nextrip/Yellow_Mantis_Shrimp.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h40/Searchee/MantisShrimp.jpg

[Richard]

A Blue Ring Octopus would take care of that mantis pretty quick. I'm not sure how to get the blue ring out afterwards or in the tank for that matter.

[erikharrison]

I know a guy that knows a guy..... :) lol

[copperband]

it has the eyes of a mantis shrimp but his head doesnt stick up like that and you cant really see his legs and when he is out of the rock it just looks like he is swimming really fast over the rocks

[blueboy]

they don't always carry their head that high, especially not the smaller varieties. what color is it? i'd almost bet it's a cilliata

[copperband]

its brown