New Cleaners -- good and bad news

[EBR]

Thanks again to everyone that chimed in on my earlier post. I wound up acclimating the little guys (by happenstance) as Billy Z described here:http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=42617

The Good news: These were the first hermits I've gotten, and by the time I had dumped them in, went to the kitchen to throw away the bag, and returned, one had already moved into a new shell (one mixed in with the cc). Very fun!

Bad news: LITTERALLY, as I was dumping the snails in -- and I mean, I hadn't even gotten the last one out of the bag -- that little F-ing mantis came along and dragged one under a rock, right before my eyes. This weekend, I'm going after the bugger with a vengence. I've already gotten rid of one a few months ago that was quite aggresive and found the bait in the trap too tempting. THIS one, though, has been very "quiet" -- little or no tapping, and I rarely see him. Well, until there is fresh meat to be had, I suppose.

Unfortunately, going after him means tearing apart all of the rocks (100# in 55 gal tank) since my 'scaping is pretty tall. Oh well.

Any advice on going after him would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
Matt

 

[quarryshark]

Don't pull all the rock, just the one he resided in if you can get to it. If not, get a trap like the one below. Its how I got mine. You can borrow it if you wish.
Let me know.