I saw a creature between 1/4 and 1/2 inch long dart from one rock to another. From the body shape, I don't think it could have been a normal shrimp, as it was just too long (in proportion to how skinny it was and how short it's legs were). It could have been a tiny mantis swimming flat out or a mysis from the few pictures I've seen of mysis. Do they get that big? I really hope they do, because the only thing that sounds more difficult to get out than a big mantis is a tiny one.
How long do mysids get?
- Thread starter benjen
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What color was it? There are a variety of pods--while copopods stay small, some of the amphipods can get bigger, up to a 1/2--I think. However, if it was bright green, it could have been a small mantis. IMO--the smaller ones aren't as experienced as the bigger ones, so more things work to trap them, but they are shy.
It was a near translucent brown, IIRC, but I've got red/green color issues and we were using a red light. Becky saw it again last night, so maybe she can comment.
I am pretty sure it's a mantis now, because something burrowed interconnecting tunnels through one of our pieces of live rock that are pretty much exactly the right diameter for the creature we saw. We spotted it cleaning out one of the new burrows and pulled the rock, then squirted fresh water in on Saturday night, nothing fled. We bought a new 10 gallon to quarantine the rock (since it has a brain coral that might survive curing on it). Then last night, Becky spotted the creature (which she said was under an inch but she thought was between 1/2 inch and 1 inch still in our main tank swimming around where the rock used to be.
I am pretty sure it's a mantis now, because something burrowed interconnecting tunnels through one of our pieces of live rock that are pretty much exactly the right diameter for the creature we saw. We spotted it cleaning out one of the new burrows and pulled the rock, then squirted fresh water in on Saturday night, nothing fled. We bought a new 10 gallon to quarantine the rock (since it has a brain coral that might survive curing on it). Then last night, Becky spotted the creature (which she said was under an inch but she thought was between 1/2 inch and 1 inch still in our main tank swimming around where the rock used to be.
Yep, sounds like a mantis. They do come in other colors, but the bahavior is what makes me think this. They'll build a maze so they can hide--finding the rock they are in can be really tough. I've had good luck just filling the hole with FW while holding the rock over a bucket--then move the rock into a tub, and repeat with the other rocks.
Sound like a good plan to me. I'll probably try it the weekend after next, since we'll be out of town this weekend and there is 5 lbs of rubble in that 45 gallon. I must have 100 individual rocks... 
No way I'm going to get through all that on a weeknight.
No way I'm going to get through all that on a weeknight.