Sammy Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Howdy all, Last week I took the plunge into saltwater and have had no problems with anything untill the last couple nights, not long after the lights go out I hear snapping/clicking going on. I suspect it was a mantis shrimp but could not see him and today I noticed 1 of the 2 blue legged hermit crabs was missing and I seen what I thought to be the remains of the hermit just moments ago. Now I under stand that this may be the hermit crab molting but dont want to take any chances. So I need some advice on how to remove or trap this little bugger if in fact thats what I have. I tried looking for a him lastnight after dark but had no luck. No LFS seems to carry a trap for these crtitters and I do not wish to keep a mantis at this point. LOL. Any tips/tricks to remove him would be greatly appricated. I also dont want to disturb the tank and have to move any LR. Thanks in advance, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunl Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 (edited) I would like him if you do get him, but the best suggestion I have seen so far is to remove the rock, and place it in fresh water...he should come sprinting out of there..... You can also try squirting carbonated water into the live rock, but not too much.... These methods work if you know where he is. If not, inverted bottle fish trap, with a piece of shrimp inside.... Edited December 16, 2005 by dunl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlkWolfe Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Inverted pop bottle like dunl said (cut the top off a bottle and slide it back into the body with the end pointing in) most likely your gonna be pulling rock though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted December 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2005 Thanks for the tips. I still havent seen the mantis or the hermit crab. I found a simple design for a trap here. DIY trap The pop bottle trap would do the same sorta thing however I dont have alot of room for even a small soda bottle/plastic bottle. mY present tank is only 20gals. Thanks again, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Still no sign of a mantis but I did discover 2 small crabs that look like emerald crabs. I will try and post a picture in the next few days once they come out again. Im hooked on salt now forsure. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefishdude Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 any luck finding the culprit?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted January 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Howdy, I havent caught or seen a mantis in the tank yet. I have seen what looked like a little .5cm moult from one floating around in the tank a few times. I still hear a snapping/clicking sound every so often thats different from the hermits shells hitting the glass. SAmmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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