what are the chances?

[cherubael]

hey guys ive been reading up on some of the weirder and cooler things its possible to get in this hobby and i came across mantis shrimp. Now everything i read says u find em in live rock and what not, now what is the chance that ill end up with one or more in around 60lbs or more of live rock? also i think the rock is from indonesia (as we cant just take rock here in australia) if that changes anything.

I think id like to keep one if i find one for free, maybe leave him in the big tank while it cycles and then get him a smaller acrylic tank of his own...IF i get one on my LR that is.

Also does anyone know anyone who sells them in Sydney?

 

[Tangs Rule]

I say the chances are slim, but good luck.

 

[cherubael]

thanks, i keep hearing about all these people who hate them and every time they get any live rock they get one and they go nuts, but i reckon seeing as i want one there is no chance of getting one...

 

[cr8on]

Depends on where you buy your live rock, but I would say there is a chance of you finding one. I find them quite often in boxes of live rock. Chances are however, its likely that you won't know that you have one until your fish begin to be injured / killed, and also, good luck catching one out of a tank with live rock. Are you interested in acquiring one, as I might know of one available?

 

[Ricko]

Very hard to say what the chances are, you could buy one piece of LR and get a mantis or you could buy 500kg and not get one. Best chance if you do want one is seeing your LFS and see if they can get one from their supplier (unless they come across one in the meantime).

 

[cherubael]

Yeah im pretty sure they could source one but that would involve paying for one, and i reckon it would be extra cool if it just came with the rock... also if i have to pay for it the gf will say no (she is freaked out by em) but if it comes in on the rock i can convince her its cute and get her to let me buy it an acrylic tank and keep it...

 

[Ricko]

LOL with the gf. Well just to let you know i bought 130-150kg of LR and didnt get any mantis.

 

[cherubael]

ok problem solved i was chatting with a guy i know and he said he gets customers giving them to him all the time outta live rock and stuff like that so hes going to find me a nice looking one and ring me, ill probably buy a small tank for it to live in (one o them fully contained jobs) and might do some corals with him, the guy said hes kept em before and they are decently coral safe if you give them space to dig in.