Tiny Hitchhiker

MinibowMatt · #1 10/24/2007, 03:51 PM

I was able to get a tiny (1") long mantis shrimp that came in on a coral to my LFS. I have him in a pico connected to my main system, and he seems to be doing fine. I have no idea on an ID yet, as he doesnt come out of a tiny hole in the LR. He just hangs his face out and stares at me. He is a bright pearly white...cant even tell if hes a smasher or a spearer yet.

I am concerned he may not be eating, as I dont see him eat. I assume he is probably eating at night. What should I be trying to entice him with? I have give his tank a little cyclopeeze and mysis so far... BTW I have had him almost 2 weeks now.

Any care tips would be appreciated.

suppressivefire · #2 10/24/2007, 07:23 PM

mysis on a skewer.

ShootMe · #3 10/24/2007, 08:44 PM

Do you have any other fish/shrimp in the pico with him? I has a hitchhiker (1") mantis in my aquapod for a year befor I finally got him out. Never saw him till the day I got him out just kept hearing the "bang" "bang" sounds at night (no he was not attacking the hermits, he was hitting the rock). As long as you feed the tank I'm sure he will find something to eat, atleast that's how mine surrived.

MinibowMatt · #4 10/25/2007, 06:18 AM

he is in a 3g pico by himself that is connected to my main system.

Mysis on a skewer? Can you explain a little?

yiliyang · #5 10/25/2007, 07:53 AM

Hi:

they can go for days without you feeding it. You should just give him time to adjust for the move. When he is hungry, he will eat. I hope you know what frozen mysis shrimp are. after you saw them, grab one with a tweezer and wave it in front of his hole, he will come out grab it and eat it. You can get mysis at almost any pet stores.

alternatively, you can also use a turkey baster, suck up a few of those shrimps and squirt into or near the hole he lives in.

Good luck

MinibowMatt · #6 10/25/2007, 08:40 AM

I think I am familiar with mysis! (judging by the 2 lbs in my fresszer!)
I will try that!
Thanx

MinibowMatt · #7 10/29/2007, 12:16 PM

So I have gotten this little guy hooked on Mysis.. He is addicted to it! As soon as he sees my tweezers he flies out of his hole after it. I *think* he is a Neogonodactylus oerstedii
any special care for this guy?

MinibowMatt · #8 10/29/2007, 12:19 PM

however, now I see the max size is 10mm....thats only like 3/8" long, and he is already about 1 inch... me thinks that 7-10mm is a typo?

suppressivefire · #9 10/29/2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MinibowMatt
he is in a 3g pico by himself that is connected to my main system.

Mysis on a skewer? Can you explain a little?

yes, use a bbq skewer you may need to get it sharper and coax him out allittle he should go for it.

DanInSD · #10 10/29/2007, 05:38 PM

Max size is 70 (seventy) mm according to Roy's list -- about 2.5".

Dan

Gangsta Nemo · #11 10/30/2007, 12:12 AM

You should try to feed some live brine to him. That seems to get a pretty good feeding response with the little guys.

Thurge · #12 10/31/2007, 10:40 AM

I have a hole dweller in my reef and when I can find him, if I bolw mysys out of my turkey baster whe will come flying out after them. Now if I could just train min that the overflow is OFF LIMITS, life would be great. I just fished hid butt out of the filter floss for the second or third time, this morning.

MinibowMatt · #13 10/31/2007, 12:16 PM

lol... The first night I got mine, he disappeared. I check the OF every day, didnt find him. Then about a week later, I decided since he disappeared (thought he died) I was going to take down the pico, and as soon as I took the durso off the BH, he ran out from under the BH...quick little bastard!

Mine also seems to like the freeze dried krill...

silvers · #14 10/31/2007, 12:27 PM

Where is the rock from. In the keys most mantis I have seen are a pearly white, and I have seen some up to4''

Thurge · #15 10/31/2007, 03:53 PM

I got mine from a Zoa. colony at the LFS. I saw her from across the frag tank and it was love at site. I saw this little thing sticking up on the rock and about the time I thought "that looks cool, wonder what t is" he popped back into his burrow and I about fell over my feet. The Zoanthids were $70, but the owner was MORE than happy for me to take the mantis off his hands.

MinibowMatt · #16 10/31/2007, 04:27 PM

I have a feeling mine is caribbean too.

MinibowMatt · #17 11/04/2007, 12:55 PM

I got a face pic of him...he wont come out far nough to get a body shot...

DanInSD · #18 11/04/2007, 01:42 PM

From the little blue dots and the striped antennae, looks like Haptosquilla trispinosa. See Roy's List. This guy won't hurt anything other than tiny snails and such. Should be safe to leave where it is;

Dan