hitch-hiker turned new resident

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by budsbunny, Oct 1, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. budsbunny

    budsbunny Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    Messages:
    127
    Location:
    Alabama
    i recently discovered a hitch hiker in my tank.... the dreaded mantis shrimp...
    rather than fight to catch him, out came the rock and the hammer and behold he was exposed. the animal lover that i am ....i put him in a 2 gallon beta tank with some sand and rock and 6 months later he got moved to a 15 gallon tank. it's pretty bare cuz he's a hider but is a very neat little pet now. i know they hunt fish and inverts but i'm not sure if they are coral eaters. i have dozens of little kenya trees and was thinking of giving him some landscaped real estate, but if he's just gonna kill em i'll go get him some ugly plastic plants. Anyone know if they eat coral???
     
    budsbunny, Oct 1, 2012
    budsbunny, Oct 1, 2012
    #1

    2. Click Here!

  2. Ryan Duchatel

    Ryan Duchatel Millepora

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2012
    Messages:
    917
    Location:
    Newcastle, AUS
    As far as I know they dont eat coral. Pics?
     
    Ryan Duchatel, Oct 1, 2012
    Ryan Duchatel, Oct 1, 2012
    #2
  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    No they do not eat corals.

    The do love crabs and shrimp.
     
    Corailline, Oct 1, 2012
    Corailline, Oct 1, 2012
    #3
  4. N00ZE

    N00ZE Eyelash Blennie

    Joined:
    May 24, 2012
    Messages:
    1,258
    Location:
    Gulf Of Mexico
    Awesome find!
     
    N00ZE, Oct 1, 2012
    N00ZE, Oct 1, 2012
    #4
  5. United417

    United417 Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2012
    Messages:
    131
    Location:
    Southeastern Ohio
    2nd that, definitely do not eat corals i have a mixed reef with mine. CUC will be snacks though...glad to hear you set up a 15 for it!if you can snag a pic we can certainly help with an ID. sit back and watch him smash;D
     
    United417, Oct 1, 2012
    United417, Oct 1, 2012
    #5
  6. Camkha1234

    Camkha1234 Great Blue Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2012
    Messages:
    2,818
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    It's completely safe ;)
     
    Camkha1234, Oct 1, 2012
    Camkha1234, Oct 1, 2012
    #6

    7. Click Here!

  7. budsbunny

    budsbunny Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    Messages:
    127
    Location:
    Alabama
    Thanks for the responses....

    i'm relieved to hear that i can build him an environment that is better than the barren landscape he's in right now.
    He is very shy but very smart.
    i am getting him trained to come out of his rock hiding place when i tap lightly on the glass.
    The way he uses his eyes is such a trip, these little independant pinheads on the end of long rotating sticks....lol
    the only way i'll be able to get a picture is to strip the tank bare, so i will try to do that before i build him some landscape. i'd love to win some lights in that Zetlight contest, even the little ones and then he'll really get a palace.....in the meantime all i have is fresh water stuff for him to live with. Since he was an uninvited guest there has been no budget for his housing ....lol
    he was just lucky i had a beta tank available. it still amazes me that he lived so well in such an inappropriate tank for 6 month
     
    budsbunny, Oct 4, 2012
    budsbunny, Oct 4, 2012
    #7
  8. budsbunny

    budsbunny Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    Messages:
    127
    Location:
    Alabama
    i got those pics

    i posted them in a new thread here i'll take a video later if i ever find the cord to charge my camera Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
     
    budsbunny, Oct 9, 2012
    budsbunny, Oct 9, 2012
    #8