help me trap the mantis

[rick12]

i placed the rock with the mantis in my sump
sump contains equipment, cheato and a DSB

[McTeague]

you > mantis

You can do it man!

[LPDK91]

You could just keep him in the sump as a pet. I would not keep a glass heater near him. He could very well break it.

[Misled]

Mix salt with carbonated, (non-flavored), to match the tank in a bucket large enough to cover the rock. Set the rock in the bucket for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove rock. Mantis will be in the bottom of the bucket when you remove the rock.

[rick12]

i like the idea of keeping it as a pet
there are so many stories out there about them breaking glass and heaters etc. are they really true? has anyone experienced a mantis breaking tanks or equipment?

[Misled]

The way I posted above will not harm him. That's how I caught mine. I kept him in a 10 gal tank for 2 years. He was about 4 1/2
in and went to be with another reefer. Had a sandbed with 15 lbs of rock and a hang on the back skimmer. Go with a small lighting system, (pc's come to mind) and feed him plenty of snails and crabs!!!!

[rick12]

did you see much of him in the 2yrs you kept him

[kracker]

You can do like I did and take the rock out to your driveway and smash away with a hammer.That mantis destroyed so much in my tank.I chased him down for over 5 months till I caught him in a rock that I could get out of my tank.I must say i had fun.

[Misled]

Originally posted by rick12
did you see much of him in the 2yrs you kept him

Once and awhile. Usually only see his head or tail. They love to burrow through rock. It's what they do. It kinda keeps them hidden, but they do come out to eat.

[marioensf]

http://www.reefcentral.com/vid/bluer...g_content.html

[marioensf]

Check this video

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/77

[McTeague]

Also known as "thumbsplitters"...

[rick12]

the videos creep me out--you can imagine how it freaked me out when i saw it jump out of the rock to get the food this aft. i heard about the mantis but never did i think i would encounter one.

[marioensf]

Check the second video link you'll see why they are dangerous little critters, nice but dangerous

[Misled]

Very nice vids.

[Misled]

Originally posted by McTeague
Also known as "thumbsplitters"...

Agreed, you don't want to put your hands in a mantis tank!!!