The Official Mantis Shrimp Owners Thread

[AirportFF]

Well it would seem that I will be coming into possession of a free mantis today. The guy that has it now said it came in on a piece of coral from Bali. But he has no idea what species it is. He described it as being about an inch long and brownish/yellow. He does not know whether it's a spearer or smasher. But he does want it out of his tank ASAP. I told him I would take it off of his hands. Rather than have him flush it.

 

But until I get a positive ID on it, it will be sitting in a container in my mantis tank. As soon as I pick it up this afternoon I'll get some pictures and hopefully someone can help me out IDing it.

 

If it's not a species that will be compatible with my setup. I figure maybe I could trade him to a LFS and order what I wanted.

[Islandoftiki]

Hopefully it will be one that will work for you. Always nice to rescue an unwanted critter.

[AirportFF]

Just got home from picking it up. Man it's small, about an inch long. Hard to tell whether it's a smasher or not. Here's the best description I can give you before getting some pics.

 

The raptoral appendages look to have black and white stripes

The body color is a greenish brown and there's a darker stripe down the center of the back.

The legs are yellow

There appears to be black and white spots on the fins(?) at the end of the tails.

 

I'll try getting some pictures. But with the size of it, that may not help

Edited May 13, 2012 by AirportFF

[AirportFF]

This is the best I could get. Just for scale those food pellets are about 1/8" in diameter

 

 

 

[Islandoftiki]

Oh, he's a wee little man!

 

I can't make it out in the pictures, does he have smashers?

[ccapasso]

If you aren't sure if he is smasher/spearer just throw a snail in there. You'll be able to tell. If he doesn't go after the snail, toss in a fish.

 

 

Snail = Smasher

Fish = Spearer

 

Hard to tell from pic but looks like smasher to me.

[Islandoftiki]

Hard to tell from pic but looks like smasher to me.

 

That was my initial thought. They're pretty easy to see when the raptorial appendages are held away from the body. I would imagine that little guy is going to keep them tucked in, cocked and ready to fire until he gets more comfortable and relaxed.

[AirportFF]

I posted on RC about it also. Dr. Caldwell seems to think it's a G. Viridis. And is missing the raptoral appendage on one side. Which is good since it was on my short list of possible inhabitants. I would feel a lot more comfortable if we had a 100% ID though.

 

He's going to stay in the basket for now with about an inch of sand and some LR rubble to hide in until I'm sure he's eating. I did toss a couple very small snails in there that other day. But they haven't been touched. But that could also mean that it may be getting ready to molt

[Islandoftiki]

I posted on RC about it also. Dr. Caldwell seems to think it's a G. Viridis. And is missing the raptoral appendage on one side. Which is good since it was on my short list of possible inhabitants. I would feel a lot more comfortable if we had a 100% ID though.

 

He's going to stay in the basket for now with about an inch of sand and some LR rubble to hide in until I'm sure he's eating. I did toss a couple very small snails in there that other day. But they haven't been touched. But that could also mean that it may be getting ready to molt

 

Well, I am almost positive that mine is a G. Viridis and yours looks identical physically. Yours is a little lighter in color. That's probably the most likely candidate.

 

I think you've got yourself a good one there. I couldn't be happier with my G. Viridis. Active, interactive and fun. Plus, appropriate for a small well lighted reef tank.

[Islandoftiki]

[absolon]

my LFS just got a zebra mantis in for 75.00 i wants him so bad but need another species tank like a need a hole in the head

[AirportFF]

Well he's in the tank. Where, I have no idea. He was looking around the large rock in the middle for a while. Then must have found a hole to hide in. I figure that he'll come out when he's ready

Edited May 17, 2012 by AirportFF

[Islandoftiki]

Well he's in the tank. Where, I have no idea. He was looking around the large rock in the middle for a while. Then must have found a hole to hide in. I figure that he'll come out when he's ready

 

Yep, give him a day or two to get comfortable. Depending on how much he's had to eat lately, you may be able to coax him out over the next day or two with some food.

 

Once he gets settled in and feels secure, you'll see him quite regularly. He'll even learn to associate you with food, so you should be very interesting to him.

 

If you haven't already done it, take some live rock and break it down into manageable sized chunks that he can move around... About the size of a marble or smaller--building blocks for a secure home entrance. Mantis shrimp like to re-scape the tank on a regular basis. Lots of bits and pieces to move around will make them happy and give them things to do.

[AirportFF]

There's tons of small ceriths in there. As well as a few tiny hermits.

[Spencer7]

Very help thread, nice job cc

 

What do you guys think, 4in Zebra in a 12" cube w/ 2"-3" of sand?

[ccapasso]

Very help thread, nice job cc

 

What do you guys think, 4in Zebra in a 12" cube w/ 2"-3" of sand?

 

 

Nope.

 

Need a lot more sand than that. Based on what I've read they need a very deep sand bed.

 

Some people have taken hexagon tanks and made them into Zebra Mantis tanks. Keep in mind they don't do a lot of swimming and stay hidden in the sand. So the deeper the sand bed you can provide the better.

[AirportFF]

I think zebras are one of, if not the, largest of the stomopods. I would think a rather large tanks would be needed.

[AirportFF]

Just a quick update. Haven't seem the little guy since he's gone into the tank. I'm assuming that he's still alive since I see a path of destruction in regards to snails. Just wish he would come out and say hi once in a while...

[Islandoftiki]

Just a quick update. Haven't seem the little guy since he's gone into the tank. I'm assuming that he's still alive since I see a path of destruction in regards to snails. Just wish he would come out and say hi once in a while...

 

Give him time. Mine will disappear into his cave for a day or two sometimes. Occasionally he will only come out to eat. Sometimes he's busy rescaping the tank for days on end. They do sometimes just hide out.

[AirportFF]

Give him time. Mine will disappear into his cave for a day or two sometimes. Occasionally he will only come out to eat. Sometimes he's busy rescaping the tank for days on end. They do sometimes just hide out.

 

I was looking in the tank about 15 minutes ago. And there he was in a hole in the rock smaller than a pea, looking back at me.

[Islandoftiki]

I was looking in the tank about 15 minutes ago. And there he was in a hole in the rock smaller than a pea, looking back at me.

 

Those curious eyes. They always look so curious and interested. There is definitely thought going on in their heads.

[Psychosis]

Those curious eyes. They always look so curious and interested. There is definitely thought going on in their heads.

 

"Kill it..."

 

Is this party only for current Mantis owners? I kept my N.Wennerae for nearly 2 years. I'm also setting up a 5.5 for a little something off of sealife inc.

[LongPig]

Currently piecing together a 40 breeder for a Peacock. Hope to be ready in the next few months.

[ccapasso]

"Kill it..."

 

Is this party only for current Mantis owners? I kept my N.Wennerae for nearly 2 years. I'm also setting up a 5.5 for a little something off of sealife inc.

 

 

Currently piecing together a 40 breeder for a Peacock. Hope to be ready in the next few months.

 

 

Added you both .

 

Please let me know when your build threads are up and I'll gladly link them.

[Divine]

Where can I find a baby rainbow mantis for sale? As close to 2" as possible is what I'm aiming for.