Frustrated

[clowninround]

I hear one mantis on one side of my tank, and one on the other. I haven't seen them, but I know they are there. I set traps , I sit I watch I can not catch them! I have thought about just dipping the rock, but won't I lose the life on/in it? I also have I hairy redish and cream colored crab that I want out of there! I might not mind reconstructing the rock again because I was going to get a few more pieces from hirocks.com. Plus my anemone is inflating and deflating. I've had it since this summer and it's always looked great, now I don't know whats going on.

 

[scuba_steve]

no need to submerge the whole rock imo if you know were he is just use a turkey baster and squirt water into it he will come out

 

[clowninround]

Thats the thing, I don't know which hole they are in. There are definately more than one, but I am clueless to how many and I can not see them. But I hear the clicking all the time now, even in the daytime. we saw 2 the night of the party and we caught the larger one...so I know at least one is in there for sure...they just aren't poking there heads anymore out like the last one did. I know which rock it is, but each are about 30#'s each and covered in holes.

 

[scuba_steve]

do you have another tank ya could put the rock into and watch for the little guy ? would make it easier that way for sure ! i feel your pain though

 

[bound_for_obx]

I was reading just last night about QT'ing Live Rock. The author (Anthony Calfo) suggested using egg-crate resting on PVC piers and a bare bottom tank. Put your rock on the egg-crate and place a piece of meat, such as shrimp, on the bottom of the QT tank. Watch to see what picks at the shrimp, and then remove any bad critters. I hadn't heard of this method before, but it might be something to try.

 

[lando]

That is a great idea. The Calfo book may have to be my next addition to the library. Is that his book on caral propagation?

 

[SquishyFish]

I definately understand your frustration. I have had a mantis in my tank for about 2 years....no way to get him out. I have about 350 pounds of LR in the tank...no way to QT all that rock.