The natural response from
just about any saltwater aquarists that hears the words "Mantis Shrimp"
is, GET RID OF IT, NOW!!! They are veracious killers and will eat or destroy
ALL your tank inhabitants if not removed immediately. Yes, this is all
true. Upon discovering you have a Mantis Shrimp in your tank it probably
already has destroyed some tank inhabitants, and if not promptly removed,
it will continue to do so until you can get it out of the tank. Don't panic!
What has been lost is lost, and by taking action to remove it as soon as
you can will help to prevent further losses. However, it shouldn't be any
big surprise if you loose a few other critters in the process. Catching
a Mantis Shrimp is not always a simple task, and often takes some time
to do. Try to be patient, and don't get mad at the shrimp. It's only doing
what it naturally does... hunt!
The question of whether intentionally
adding a Mantis Shrimp to a fish-only or reef tank is bad, the answer to
this is an unequivocal,
yes! If you do put one in an aquarium with other animals, don't get
mad at the shrimp if things start disappearing. If you decide you want
to buy a Mantis Shrimp or keep one, because of its territorial and aggressive
nature, it is best kept it in a tank by itself, but several may be kept
together if you have a VERY big tank with plenty of room.
When a Mantis Shrimp is introduced
into your tank by accident, by all means you have the right to remove it.
However, before we go into methods of removal, may we suggest you consider
other options of what to do with it prior to catching it, other than killing
it?
Next Page
> What
Do You Do With One Once You've Caught It?
Previous Page < Mantis Shrimp as Pets
