dangerous LR hitchhikers...

[Go Lions!]

Hey everyone, a month ago I picked up a couple new pieces of LR and a few days later I also discovered the most revolting and thoroughly repulsive looking creature I've ever seen in my life that came with it. Could anyone help me determine what it was? It appeared to be a shrimp of some kind that was about 2" long, dark gun-metal grey almost black, about 8 pairs of legs up near the front and a fairly weak exoskelaton throughout. It's width was the same throughout the length of it. ((I'm not 100% sure if this is related but... the day before I found it, I noticed a couple of disgusting looking 'flegm-like' secreations stuck on the liverock that I ASSUME?? was from it.)) Basically it almost looked like someone with a bad cold blew their nose into the tank. What is more frightening is that I'm still discovering these 'secreations' every few days, and I fear that anotherone may be hiding somewhere in the tank. For now I'm just hoping that IF there is another one in there that it will have a quick and fatal introduction to my Triggerfish. Does anyone know what this thing was? Should I take more of an active intervention than this? What are your experiences with this!! thanks!

[christyf5]

mantis shrimp?
http://www.cs.brown.edu/people/twd/fish/PNG/DOEP356-018.jpg

I don't know if they make phlegm-y bits. Those could be made by vermetid snails which cast mucous nets that could look kind of snotty I guess :razz: Mantis owners could give you more info on that.

[KrazyKuch]

mantis shrimp?


and a fairly weak exoskelaton throughout.

I believe that mantis shrimp have a hard exoskelaton!!

[geopod]

Wow Christy,

Is that a pic of your Mantis?That is a nice color.Almost makes we wanna get one now.

george

[christyf5]

naw I found that one via google images :biggrin:

[Go Lions!]

Thanks for the responses... But looking at that pic, I don't think it was a Mantis... This thing was truely a revolting creature, there were also no white or red markings on it. who knows? Anyone remember the movie 'Alien'? The dinner table scene ? ya, kinda like that but smaller... nasty looking creature.

[outtafocus]

I've always believed that the mantis shrimp is a direct decendant of the Aliens.
All its missing is the acid for blood.

[TNTCanada]

Was it a Sea Spider

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/rs/index.php

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm



Cheers
Tyler