Thomas898 Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 When I was feeding my corals today I noticed a black brittle star coming out of the rock work, must have come as a hitchhiker but haven't noticed it since I set the tank up, was around 5 inches from arm to arm. Gave it some of the fish meat I was feeding the corals, it reeled in a few big chunks, I've only got 2 clowns and don't want to add more fish so I'm letting it stay, I was wondering how fast these things grow? And do I need to do anything other than feed it to keep it happy? I've also had a baby mantis shrimp hitchhiker in the tank since set up which I haven't been able to get out, but haven't heard it clicking in about 4 days. What are the chances the brittle star did me a favour and ate it..? Link to comment
aviator300 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 how big is the mantis if you have seen it? Link to comment
thomas8man Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 try to get the mantis out they will destroy tanks if they feel like it they might snack on fish. Link to comment
Benny314 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Brittle stars will do no harm at all (great CUC), but it won't eat the mantis and as already said the mantis will probably eat your fish and or take your CUC. You say clicking, is that the only reason you have decided mantis shrimp or have you seen it? It could be a pistol shrimp who again is a cool and good hitch hiker. I think I'm right in the mantis shrimp that click are the ones armed with the hammer type appendage that they use to smash snail and hermit crab shells as well as (if you believe the rumours) your rock work and potentially your tank. The other type of mantis has barbed arms that they impale their pray with and that's more likely to take your fish if its one of those bad boys. Either way, if it's a mantis you want it out and in it's own specialist tank (if you fancy keeping it) with only what you intend to feed it in with it. Or dead before it kills your stock. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 If its a tiny mantis, he probably won't bother your fish but go after your snails instead. Some brittle/serpent stars DO eat fish. The green ones are the biggest offenders. Link to comment
Thomas898 Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 how big is the mantis if you have seen it? It's about an inch long currently, it hides in a portion of live rock that had some holes in it. Which unfortunately makes up the base of my scape.. You say clicking, is that the only reason you have decided mantis shrimp or have you seen it? It could be a pistol shrimp who again is a cool and good hitch hiker. I've seen it a few times, the eyes protrude from the top of it's head like a mantis, and it has a long centipede like body, and has two fairly large (compared to the rest of it) things that look like pincers. Apart from that I have no conclusive proof! I put food in the hole it lives in and I haven't noticed anything disappear, will keep this up, catch it then it is making a return trip to the LFS regardless! Link to comment
Benny314 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 If you've trained it to expect food at the entrance to its lair try a bottle trap. Cut the neck off a small drinks bottle and turn it back into the bottle. Weight it and bait it and leave it in front of its cave over night and you should get lucky and trap the blighter. Link to comment
Thomas898 Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 If you've trained it to expect food at the entrance to its lair try a bottle trap. Cut the neck off a small drinks bottle and turn it back into the bottle. Weight it and bait it and leave it in front of its cave over night and you should get lucky and trap the blighter. Thanks for the advice I've used the bottle trap before on two evil peppermint shrimp with great success, mantis was just too small at the time for it to work, hopefully it's big enough to be banished now. Link to comment
Benny314 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Yeah half the battle is knowing where to set the trap for maximum effect and best chance of success. Good luck as he might be a bugger if you don't get him. Link to comment
Thomas898 Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 I've got a rough idea where to set it, hopefully I can also catch the last of the evil peppermint trio as well and FINALLY have a shrimp free tank just in time for Xmas Link to comment
Benny314 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Problems with peps bothering your coral? It's a pain when they realise there are taster things than aiptasia to eat. Link to comment
Thomas898 Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 Indeed, I got 3 as part of my CUC, worst idea. Very first coral I introduced was a hammer, peps took to it immediately, didn't eat the heads, just ripped them off and threw them around. Little treasures were back at the store two days later. Thanks bottle trap.. The last one was small and didn't bother anything until now.. it just rips food out of my plate and trachys mouth.. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.