My firefish is DEAD!

You are jumping to conclusions. You really do not know if it's a mantis or not. What you saw (1/2 fish) is not a "tell tale sin" a mantis did it. Anything could have done that, even a predatory worm.

Why would you think a mantis would rip it in half like that? Most animals head straight for the gut, mantis included. Just because this did not happen with this fish does not = mantis

 

Sounds good, shouldn't float away as it will fill with water when you put it in the tank ;D

 

it would make sense if it were a worm or other invert but i have been hearing clicking noises, and it just so happened i heard a loud clicking noise in the area where i found my firefish, i really dont want it to be a mantis but so far it all makes sense

ok, this really sucks i hope i can catch the mantis or whatever else is eating myf ish because i cant add anything more until i find what it is

 

so i got a water bottle, i cut the top 3/4 of it off and right now im just waiting for the silver sides to thaw out

 

so here's the trap with the water bottle and couple of silversides, im hoping the killer will get to it soon

 

I agree with Gresham, maybe it died of another cause and then your cuc started eating it.

 

hard to say i really dont thinmk so because it had been a perfectly healthy fish and they would have only gone after the weak, and i have been hearing clicking noises as well but im hoping i will catch the killer because right now im on hold when it comes to adding any more fish

 

take the top 1/4 section, then invert it so it sticks inside the half of the bottle. then its like a minnow trap.. punch some holes around the perimiter of the two halves and sew together with some string/fishing string..

 

It could also be a pistol shrimp they make loud clicks and can easily kill and eat a fish I had one but it ate 8 of my fish so I got rid of it

 

ok thats a good idea

are they known hitchhikers on LR?