The claws of the mantis shrimp is much more powerful than the crab!!

When you hear your tank go "click click" at night, it is either the mantis shrimp digging a hole, or a pistol shrimp.

I had 2 in my tank before, and I found both in my sump while cleaning it. I would say that I am very lucky, as mantis shrimp is VERY smart and VERY difficult to catch!!! So, the next time you clean out your sump, please examine it first!!

They are very fast, very dangerous, and very smart. So, I doubt you will have much luck hunting this creature. Instead, you should make some DIY mantis shrimp traps.

There are 2 types and both are super easy to make. One is to put a glass container with its opening facing the top and next to a rock where you see the mantis shrimp. Then put some food and turn off the light. Due to the very smooth surface, it cannot climb back up.

The other DIY trap is to cut the top of a plastic bottle. Invert the top of the bottle and insert it back into the body of the bottle. This way, it is easy to go in, but very difficult to get out. Placing this trap is the same as the previous one.

Problem is, if you do NOT get them in the first try, they will never go back and try the trap a second time!!!