[peanut]

I have a ticking noise coming from my tank and suspect a Mantis Shrimp has come in with live rock. My question is how to determine where hes at and then how to go about trapping him?? Thanks for any and all suggestions in advance.

 

[shermlock]

Wait about two hours after the lights go out and then stick a 20 ounce pop bottle in there with a string tied around the neck and some food in the bottom. As soon as he goes in, reel him in. This may only work once because they get smart fast. This was the quickest way for me. Good luck.
Scott

 

[ystmarroon]

Could be a pistol shrimp too. They are ok. If the pop bottle doesn't work. Watch after the lights go out with a flashlight. Determine the rock he lives in and remove it. Put it in freshwater and out he comes.

If you don't see it after a couple nights of watching, probably not a mantis. They are pretty bold. If you have any other questions about them, ask Mermaid. She has a tank just for a mantis. She probably knows better than anyone.

 

[Mermaid]

peanut, I'm not familiar with your tank, but what other life do you have in there? Are you missing any critters or just get new LR? Are you finding any busted up shell fragments from snails or crabs and how long have you heard the ticking? Somtimes it's just a shell of a critter tapping against the tank. Pistols usually strike or pop in two's and Mantis more times.
I had one in my tank and never knew it until I started stocking my tank. I lost 4 fish to him and it took me four stinking months to find him and catch him! That was in a 75 reef with about 140lbs of LR though. RC has a Mantis forum with many tips on catching them. Check this article out for some good reading

Reefkeeping on Mantis

and this board is notorius for info on Mantis

Blueboard

I set up baby bottles with shrimp in them and the nipple inverted and the hole cut big enough for a small one to get in. As mentioned above, the top of a 2 liter cut off and inverted with some bait as well. Even krill works, but you may catch some other critters as well. Using a red flashlight at night to find them doesn't work so well, as their eyesight is so sophisticated they can see it.
I ended up cathing mine in the day and the little stinker was peering out behind a leather at me. We grabbed the leather with the rock it was on and the Mantis went into the hole in the LR. Holding it over a bucket of SW, we used FW as ysmarroon posted, shot the water into the hole with a turkey baster and he shot out and fell into the bucket. So if you can find the rock he's housed in, thats half the battle.

 

[peanut]

Mermaid,

We have reef janitors various corals and a few fish. Have only noticed one of the green chromis missing just recently. A while ago I noticed a hermit carb was just dismembered and left in a small pile, also a watchman goby was pretty well chewed up. I did'nt think that the goby was all that healthy so I discounted that he may have been eatn by some thing just came to and end and then was eatn by the others. clicking noise comes and goes since end of march. Have not noticed any other signs as you mentioned will read articles you gave threads on. We have a 135 with about 160 # of live rock plenty of places to hide. So far we have caught several peppermint shrimp with our traps but no mantis as of yet. How is a pistol shrimp look compared to peppermints cleaners and camel shrimps??? Are the pistols very similar or are they very different in size shape and color?? Thanks for the info so far Doug aka peanut

 

[Valleye]

The sound could also be hermit crabs tapping agains the glass.

I know I do not have evil shrimp and I still get the ticking sound.