How to Remove a Mantis Shrimp From a Saltwater Aquarium
Published April 08, 2009
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By Robert Lashlee
Mantis shrimp are one of the most dreaded marine pests to encounter in your aquarium. This article will outline what these animals are, why they are dangerous, and methods on how to remove them from your tank.
Overview of Mantis Shrimp
Mantis shrimp are not really a shrimp at all, but are really a crustacean. They are fierce predators of the marine world due to their ability to spear and smash their prey with powerful claws. Mantis shrimp may vary in color from dull browns to bright neon colored bodies. Their full-grown adult size ranges from about 30 cm to 38 cm. They either live in rock crevices, coral, or make burrows in the substrate (where they plug the entrance with a rock or shell).
Dangers
Mantis shrimp require removal from your tank because:
- These animals are burrowers in nature. When encountering an obstruction, their natural instinct is to smash away until their path is clear. In your tank, this could lead to chipping away and eventually shattering your glass if they are big enough.
- They are not picky eaters and will hunt both your fish and invertebrates alike.
- There is a reason that commercial fishermen have named these creatures “thumb-splitters”. Fish keepers can be seriously harmed when coming into contact with a mantis shrimp, especially if they are adult-sized.
How Do You Know You Have a Mantis Shrimp in Your Tank?
Mantis shrimp are very hardy animals that usually enter a tank through “hitchhiking” onto live rock. The first inkling that you have one in your tank is a tapping or clicking noise coming from your aquarium. Another clue may be disappearing fish or dead crustaceans with cracked shells.
Removal Methods
There are many different types of removal techniques. Here is a list of the most popular and successful methods.
Known Location:
If you know the location of the mantis shrimp you can use the technique of forcing a foreign liquid into the rock where it is living. First, isolate the rock in another container or sink. Next, choose your weapon. Freshwater, soda water, and boiling water are all good choices. Squirt your liquid of choice into a hole in the rock using a syringe or baster. The mantis shrimp will evacuate the rock when he is stressed.
If you are not too attached to the size or shape of the rock the mantis shrimp is living in, you can bust the rock into smaller pieces with a hammer. It will be easier to flush out the mantis shrimp when it does not have as many holes or tunnels to hide in.
Unknown Location:
A trap is the best bet when you know you have a mantis shrimp living in your tank, but its exact location is unknown. You can make a trap of your own quite easily, or can purchase a commercial trap. Both work in the same manner, by baiting the trap with food, then capturing the mantis shrimp after it enters the trap.
To make your own trap, you need sharp scissors or a knife, a 16 oz. clear plastic bottle, and a piece of seafood for bait. (1) Cut the bottle at the widest point (between the top of bottle and sides). This will leave the top part of the bottle that looks like a funnel. (2) Invert the funnel and place it inside the bottle. The drinking hole should now be facing the bottom of the bottle. (Please see the diagram link in “Further Reading” for an illustration.) (3) Place seafood bait in bottle. (4) Submerge the trap in your tank to fill with water. Place trap at bottom of your tank on top of the substrate. (5) Check back often to see when you’ve caught your mantis. Then, remove the trap with the mantis inside.
Conclusion
Mantis shrimp have a well-deserved reputation for being fierce predators. To ensure your tank does not get wiped out by one of these creatures, early detection and removal is essential. By following the above advice, you can keep your fish and invertebrates safe from these predatory animals.
Some fishkeepers hold a differing view of mantis shrimp, and actually keep these creatures purposely. To do this, several factors must be taken into account such as keeping the animal isolated and in an acrylic tank. Please research this further if you plan to keep the mantis shrimp after you remove it from the current tank.
Further Reading
Mantis Shrimp Overview:
Pictures:
Diagram of a Trap:
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