Hitchhiker ID Please

[ptrick21186]

Hi guys! Got a bit of a tough one but honestly you guys haven't let me down yet so let's give this a try. Noticed a disturbance under one of my rocks and found this little guy making himself at home. I recently got 8lbs of ocean rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater so I've been finding all sorts of never before seen creatures popping up in here.

Hard to tell from the pics but he's some sort of shrimp. Almost looks like a Mantis shrimp from the head but he appears to have a flat behind sort of like a snail. Any ideas based off these pics or do I need to flip over this rock?

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

You got a mantis there

 

[ptrick21186]

You got a mantis there

I should remove him right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi guys! Got a bit of a tough one but honestly you guys haven't let me down yet so let's give this a try. Noticed a disturbance under one of my rocks and found this little guy making himself at home. I recently got 8lbs of ocean rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater so I've been finding all sorts of never before seen creatures popping up in here.

Hard to tell from the pics but he's some sort of shrimp. Almost looks like a Mantis shrimp from the head but he appears to have a flat behind sort of like a snail. Any ideas based off these pics or do I need to flip over this rock?

baby either red or peacock mantis. Will eat all shrimp and snails, make clicking sounds and Move rocks and objects around
A separate tank for enjoyment would work well

 

[ptrick21186]

You guys are batting 1000 on these ocean hitchhikers I've been posting! Still haven't been able to stump you yet! Definitely appreciate thr help

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

I should remove him right?

Sump him! If it's a Peacock it will get big and beautiful so if you want it'll make a great sump critter/species specific tank, but yeah, will eat your inverts if you keep it in the display

 

[ptrick21186]

Oh ya. Just moved the rock. Definitely a Mantis Shrimp. And he's FAST! Might have to make a trap. Anybody got any suggestions?

 

[ptrick21186]

Sump him! If it's a Peacock it will get big and beautiful so if you want it'll make a great sump critter/species specific tank, but yeah, will eat your inverts if you keep it in the display

He's all red. Not sure he's a peacock

 

[DaJMasta]

The folded arms is definitely a mantis, if I had to guess from the popping, probably a smasher type.

For catching mine, my most reliable method was to identify the rock it wanted to live in, then pull the rock out and put it in a bucket. Let it sit for 30 seconds or a minute, splash in an inch or two of water, then sort of lightly shake and somewhat slowly pull the rock out of the water. The dry time will convince it that the house isn't a good one to stay in and the splash of water will give it a convenient way to get out, so it should end up in the bucket.

 

[ptrick21186]

Also just realized that this is gotta be the clicking noise I've been hearing the last few weeks. It's been driving me crazy! I thought it was coming from the fans on my light!