patback Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I've always wanted to start a dwarf seahorse tank but figured I just never would. Well the other day, I sporadically purchase a mr aqua pico bowfront. But I came to my senses and thought "that shits boring" and searched around for a mantis instead. I settled on O. Havanensis. Yeah, yeah, this tank is way to small for a Havanensis, they're too active blah, blah, blah. The reason I chose this species is that they are attractive, active, and seem to be the most rewarding based on those facts, and the fact that some would say that Havanensis are one of the more difficult to keep. I don't feel like setting up a large tank to just search for a mantis that at present time, is smaller than most of my amphipods. (Sarcasm, but seriously. Its tiny. ) as he/she grows(I didn't sex it yet ), I have a 15 tall in my kitchen just collecting dust that I can easily transfer it to. In just not sure if it will be a month from now, or 6 months from now. Either way, I plan on putting a frag of black sun coral, hidden cup coral, a metric butt-load of white and pink feather dusters , and possibly[i/] some macros if I get a light. Probably just a little dragons breath. Once the mantis is out, I'll try a mixed reef pico. Tank In the bag I have a boring video of him whacking a piece of seachem matrix but can't upload it for some reason. It shows his size real well since he's between my sumps baffles. I'd reckon he's around 1.5"-1.75" Link to comment
Dion_Blaster Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 siikkkkk. way more badass then a seahorse tank 1 Link to comment
Psychosis Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 x10,000. Maybe even x10,001. I loved my Mantis, I loved it so hard. Following. 1 Link to comment
patback Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 I love mine already. Im getting a last minute valentine gift tomorrow morning and definitely stopping off for a heater to get this tank functioning immediately. 1 Link to comment
gonzalez78 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 They had the same mantis at the lfs my reef club held our frag swap but it was a whole lot bigger than yours, I'd say around 5-6" very pretty too. Link to comment
Psychosis Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I thought O. Havanensis topped out around 4"? Are you sure it wasn't an O. Scyllarus? 1 Link to comment
Spirofucci Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I'm really liking this. I'll stay tuned. 1 Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Woohoo! Following along! Link to comment
patback Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 Crossing my fingers. Little dudes been acting lethargic all day. I'm hoping its just a rough molt from the stress of delivery and acclimation to new water. I'll update tomorrow, hopefully with a clear pic too. Link to comment
patback Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 So a little update. Sorry about the lack of pictures. He seems to be doing well again and built a den in the back of the tank. The small size of the tank would normally just mean spin the tank, but Ofcourse, its a bowfront. Haha. If in a week doesn't venture out more often I might just spin it. I'm working in catching one of the peppermint shrimp in my reef tank to take a video of a special feeding. It's pretty easy to get it cornered in my open scape, but a shit ton of Lps on the sand make it hard to scoop with a net. I actually caught it with feeding tongs but dropped it Link to comment
patback Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 No table manners. He ate one nassarius right out of the shell. The other snails and hermits I have in there with him, he is playing with. He lets them walk off a little bit and then Gathers them in a pile, whacks a few times and then buries them. When they climb back out he does it all over again. Playing with his food . sorry for the cruddy pics. I caught the peppermint and threw it in and felt bad. I decided he did a good job of cleaning out the reef tank of aiptasias so I let him live to see another day. Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Nice choice of mantis! Following along. Link to comment
patback Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 Thank you. I can't wait for it to get more used to me and come out more often. He already does recognize me as not a threat. He'll do his thing with my staring, yet if somebody else comes in the room he hides. (Btw, I have not sexed it yet. I'm just calling it a he for ease of talking about it. If Kat reads this, I'll be awaiting name suggestions ) Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 It sounds like your mantis is nearly as small as the tiny red one I'm holding for a friend. I think it's a little hard to see the "boy parts" when they're that small. I couldn't see them on my little red one, so I'm calling it a her for now. Link to comment
patback Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Now that he's calm and out in the open he might e a little bigger than I originally saw. Looks to be about a good two inches long. Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Now that he's calm and out in the open he might e a little bigger than I originally saw. Looks to be about a good two inches long. Ah, so the size of my G. Viridis. My little red one is about 1/4 that size! That is one good looking mantis. I'd really like to have an O. Havanensis. Link to comment
patback Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Ah, so the size of my G. Viridis. My little red one is about 1/4 that size! That is one good looking mantis. I'd really like to have an O. Havanensis. I don't think I could ever keep a more timid species after this one. I love it already. This morning, its like he finally became full blown "used to me" and was swimming like crazy, whacking everything in sight, and just overall enjoying himself. (What it seamt like to me. ). I think the upgrade will be sooner, rather than later. But for now, he seems content Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I don't think I could ever keep a more timid species after this one. I love it already. This morning, its like he finally became full blown "used to me" and was swimming like crazy, whacking everything in sight, and just overall enjoying himself. (What it seamt like to me. ). I think the upgrade will be sooner, rather than later. But for now, he seems content The joys of the smaller Odontodactylus species. Link to comment
patback Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 And it's really neat when I feed him. I hold a snail with the feeding tongs and he very softly flips upside down and grabs it. Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 And it's really neat when I feed him. I hold a snail with the feeding tongs and he very softly flips upside down and grabs it. Do you have a smartphone that you could get some video of feeding and youtube it? Link to comment
patback Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 I think in going to have to put the case back on. Whenever I pull it out he sorta freezes up. I think the reflective apple has got him a bit scared. I've already got 3 or 4 videos of him but they are mostly off him just hanging out. I'll definitely get a video up soon. Link to comment
Spirofucci Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 That is one coll mantis! Must be a girl cause it's kinda pink........ Link to comment
reeferman81 Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Gorgeous mantis here is a pic of mine... Link to comment
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