Mantis shrimp???

[cmn3]

today I found a molt from some sort of crustation I think is only about a 1/4 inch so not sure I have not seen anything like it in my tank but it had to come from somthing alive this the best I can do for a pic

 

[Krish]

Wow...Hard to tell from the picture. It's going to be rather difficult to identify it from the picture you provided which I understand will be hard to get a good shot of being so small. If it is a mantis shrimp, you will notice some of your small hermits, crustaceans etc going missing if you have any in there. Guess you will have to keep an eye out.

 

[cmn3]

are they a night time criter?

 

[Krish]

I think for the most part they are predominently nocturnal predators. Curt (curtswearing) had a mantis shrimp workshop here a while back. I'll see if I can find it and post it up for you.

 

[cmn3]

well took a quick look and all the hermits are there but cant seem to find one of my snails

 

[Krish]

well took a quick look and all the hermits are there but cant seem to find one of my snails

Hmm...Well, keep an eye on things. Those things can do some serious damage to you if they strike you so be careful putting your hand in the tank moving rocks if infact you do have one. If you browse some youtube clips on them you will see what I mean.

Here is Curt's workshop if you want to browse through it. Don't think he got finished with it before closing it, but some info in there.

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f102/stomatopod-mantis-shrimp-workshop-17314/

 

[cmn3]

ok thanks. makes me wounder now cause I was moving some stuff around last night and smothin got me I just thought it was my pepermint shrimp? didnt draw blood but didnt feel very good

 

[Krish]

Well, they say a mantis shrimp can pack a punch strong enough to break your tanks glass lol! A mature mantis hitting your finger would have definately split your finger open.

ok thanks. makes me wounder now cause I was moving some stuff around last night and smothin got me I just thought it was my pepermint shrimp? didnt draw blood but didnt feel very good

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thatguy559]

well if it one and you dont want it i will take it off your hands i would like it for my refugium

 

[akunochi]

/\

Your fuge???? Por que?

 

[thatguy559]

well i dont want it in my display tank and eat up all my cool fish and inverts!!!!! but i like the way they look

 

[cmn3]

Well first I have to find it... From looking at the molt I found its just under a quarter inch but does look like the pics and video I have been able to find

 

[Slate]

Did the molt have any color to it? It is extremely hard to tell from the picture but, when I look at the pic first thing that comes to mind is a full grown amphipod molt. I have seen them, and their molts, in my tank easily 1/4" or a little bigger.

 

[cmn3]

No not realy any color whats an amphipod? Are they good bad or other I am total noob at this

 

[Slate]

They are a good thing. They are like mini shrimp that live in our tanks that can provide an additional live food source to our fish and inverts. Similar to copepods (in how I think about their use) but larger. This site FAQs about Amphipod Crustaceans has some pictures mixed in with the FAQ that might help you tell if that is what the molt is from.

I am really just grasping at straws here as far as an ID. It was just the first thing that popped into my head.

 

[cmn3]

Ok cool I will take a look