What the heck is this thing???

[sdaccord03]

I have just purchased 40 lbs of LR from liverocks.com and I found a lot of life on my rocks. Unfortunately, aiptasia was one specimen. This morning I found another critter that kind of freaks me out. It looked like a worm of some sort with several legs. It was about 3 inches long and the girth of about the diameter of a dime almost. It looked predatory but it hid in the rocks before I could get a chance to get it out. Any ideas what this mystery guest might be?

Thanks.

JW

 

[Phyl]

My guess without a picture would be a bristle worm. They look like hairy catapillers. Mine are harmless!

 

[sdaccord03]

OK just got another look at him. He looks like some kind of shrimp and is about the size I mentioned before. He hid before I could net him and get him outta there though.

 

[grimlock3000]

Does it look like THIS:

 

[Fluff]

I guessed a mantis as well, in the thread in the ID forum.

 

[sdaccord03]

Yes that is what it looks like, but it's not nearly so colorful. What is it???

JW

 

[sdaccord03]

OK great, so how do I get rid of these mantis shrimps???

JW

 

[quarryshark]

Is the rock in your tank yet? can you pull it out easily?
If so, take the rock he is in, find his hole and spritz a little FW into the hole with a turkey baster. He should come jumping out so be ready.
Oh and don't try and pick him up with your bare hands. A strike from him would hurt.
They are preditors so if you can get him now, all the better.
Also consider setting up a small tank for him. They are interesting as long as they are not in a community tank.
HTH

 

[mybug]

Damn mantis

I got a couple from my rock from liverocks.com also. I found one before introducing the rock but I know I have at least one more because the popping sound is a nightly ritual with this fellow(s). I'm told it could also be a pistol shrimp but given I found one mantis I'll bet I have another.

I've tried to catch with a inverted pop bottle trap to no avail. I'm told that some of the info around them is a myth and not worry.

I want mine out as the popping annoys me and I don't want the risk.

I still haven't introduced any livestock to my tank but was hoping to do so shortly. I suspect my mantis is very small. The one I found in the bottom of the bag was very, very small.

 

[sdaccord03]

Mine is like 3" long and the girth of a dime around.

 

[Phyl]

take the rock he is in, find his hole and spritz a little FW into the hole with a turkey baster. He should come jumping out so be ready.

That's exactly what I did. I took the rock the little bugger was last seen in and squirted him with some tap water. I put a bowl under the rock when I did it and he *jumped* right into the bowl. I had someone from the NJRC ready to take my unwanteds so I just bagged this guy up with some SW and kept him floating in my QT over night. Then I took the pile of crabs and the mantis to this guy who wanted them. Win-win! Mine was pretty tiny (1/4"?) and looked all black.

I used a small glass to scoop him up.

 

[MT79]

Mine is like 3" long and the girth of a dime around.

As Qshark mentioned watch your fingers. I'd imagine a 3 incher would leave a mark...