Help please!

[Anihiel1]

Can someone is this hitchhiker? Came in with some live rock

 

[Arthacker87]

Definitely a shrimp and cool looking one at that. Maybe mantis shrimp?

 

[35ppt]

Redacted

 

[Murica]

Mantis shrimp

+1. People keep those in species only tanks because they’re pretty neat, but they’re not good in a reef

 

[Anihiel1]

I have no other tank to put him in and I don't want to kill him. Is it a danger to my corals? I do have a huge mithrax crab (WAS a tiny one) that snacked on all my peppermint shrimp, so he might not last a day anyway

 

[Pablopufferfish]

I have no other tank to put him in and I don't want to kill him. Is it a danger to my corals? I do have a huge mithrax crab (WAS a tiny one) that snacked on all my peppermint shrimp, so he might not last a day anyway

Trust me, that mantis shrimp will eat that crab no matter it’s size. I think they don’t eat coral.(truly don’t know)

 

[muzikalmatt]

Definitely a mantis shrimp. Good job catching him as he can be a nuisance! You can see if your LFS or maybe another local hobbyist would interested in having him, but you definitely don't want to put him back in your tank.

 

[Rmckoy]

Pretty cool find .
But not worth keeping in a reef or anything besides a species specific setup .

 

[Anihiel1]

Yes he is currently captured- he never made it into the tank, just got the live rock shipment today so it's all quarantined at the moment.

 

[Anihiel1]

Guess I'll get a small tank and let him live out his days in isolation

 

[MohrReefs]

Get a second smaller tank for it and feed it live foods. Definitely dont put it back in your tank or every fish or small creature that moves would find itself eaten. They have highly advanced eyesight, super cool animals. Mind your fingers also, they can lay your hand open easily.

 

[MohrReefs]

Also, that looks like a punching one. Make sure the tank has tempered glass.

 

[Anihiel1]

How about plastic? As in just a basic 3.5 gallon from petsmart. Best I could find on short notice & not sure I'd trust the glass strength on a small tank. He seems pretty docile so far- moved him first to get a pic then again out of the starfish & crab quarantine. I'll give him some meaty chunks now.

 

[Murica]

Too bad you live so far away, I’d take him off your hands for you

 

[MohrReefs]

How about plastic? As in just a basic 3.5 gallon from petsmart. Best I could find on short notice & not sure I'd trust the glass strength on a small tank. He seems pretty docile so far- moved him first to get a pic then again out of the starfish & crab quarantine. I'll give him some meaty chunks now.

I think itll be fine temporarily, how long is the Mantis? Just dont tease it at the glass and it should leave the plastic siding alone. You'll need live rock in that tank as well. Their punch has the force of a .22 caliber bullet, so I stress this 3.5 gal being temporary.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Very cool!

 

[DeniseAndy]

These guys are some of the coolest creatures on the planet. However, they do not do well unless we actually set up a tank directly for them. They will not eat corals, but most snails and crabs are fair game. Some fish, but not so much with the smashers.
Good luck!!!

 

[Anihiel1]

I think itll be fine temporarily, how long is the Mantis? Just dont tease it at the glass and it should leave the plastic siding alone. You'll need live rock in that tank as well. Their punch has the force of a .22 caliber bullet, so I stress this 3.5 gal being temporary.

I would say 3 inches. Hopefully this will be good enough to make it until stores reopen. I'm in Jersey, we're getting hit hard with Covid. We're not even allowed in most stores, curbside pickup or delivery only. LFS's closed.

 

[Leemcg]

Cool find. Very interesting animals. Just don’t let it near your DT, anything living will most likely be beaten to death and eaten. And watch your fingers, evens a small one like that can split you open real easy. Glad to see you are keeping him, they don’t play well with others, but alone are really cool.

 

[fishguy242]

they don't call em nail splitters for nothing,glad you got him,happy reefing