Help ID

[rob213]

Hello, when I was recently moving some live rock, I noticed something shoot to another live rock, I only got a glimpse and it looked like it was redish/pinkish. It now stays under one of my live rock pieces and shoots sand out from under it. I only got this picture:

 

[Jimbo7]

That looks like a mantis shrimp to me. try putting a larger piece of shrimp right outside of it and see if it will come out for a better picture.
Mantis shrimp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Is there anything else in the tank? They are badddd news if you have one.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Also, just up and left from where you've drawn the circle is a nasty looking little aiptasia. Just FYI, if you didn't notice it before.

Agree that the little beady eyes looking out from that rock look like a shrimp. Not sure what kind though...

 

[mrg02d]

That looks like a mantis shrimp to me. try putting a larger piece of shrimp right outside of it and see if it will come out for a better picture.
Mantis shrimp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Is there anything else in the tank? They are badddd news if you have one.

Good eyes! Yeap, that looks to be a mantis shrimp to me. Not to many creatures find their way into our tanks that have eyes like that.

Get ready for war!
Matt

 

[rob213]

Thanks for the replies, I have a pair of percula clowns, two blue tangs, two shrimp, some grabs and two sea urchins.. I will try to get a better picture but its rarley visible

 

[Jimbo7]

Put a larger krill or shrimp in a skewer and dangle it out in front of him. Try looking at his hole after the lights go out as well. You can use a flashlight with a red filter of some kind, their eyes don't see as much red light.

 

[thincat]

What size did you say your tank was?

 

[milhous3er]

What size did you say your tank was?

I was wondering myself...maybe around a 29g

 

[thincat]

Lets hope not!

 

[rob213]

What size did you say your tank was?

its a 75g

 

[rob213]

Got it out.. now I have to think of what to do with it... thanks for the help guys

 

[thincat]

What did it turn out to be? got a picture?

 

[Jimbo7]

Also very curious.

 

[rob213]

You guys were right, it was a baby mantis shrimp.. I heard a lot ticking and eventually found it again in a rock.. So now i have the whole rock with the little guy inside it in a smaller tank. Ill try to get a pic today but I still dont know what to do with it

 

[thincat]

See if your LFS would take it for credit on a future buy.

 

[Jimbo7]

Depending on what type it is, they can sell for $50+. Always a welcome hitch hiker IMO, provided you can catch em before they do any damage. Some people even keep them in a species only tank, though personally they seriously creep me out.