MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Hey hey, just received some live rock and trying to identify this little dude. Is he a mantis shrimp? And if so, do you think he will kill all the freakin gorilla crabs if I allow him to live?? Thanks in Advance! 3 Quote Link to comment
M. Tournesol Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 (edited) Yes it's a mantis shrimp. Edited October 8, 2021 by M. Tournesol 1 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 1 minute ago, M. Tournesol said: can you put a photo? Hmmm thought I did! Let me try again. If it still doesn't work, I'll post when I get home. Don't have the best service at the moment! 1 1 Quote Link to comment
M. Tournesol Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Here is the best list on the internet to identify mantis shrimp species: https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/ 1 Quote Link to comment
M. Tournesol Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 @Snow_Phoenix or @Ratvan, do you think you could identify this mantis shrimp? Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 14 minutes ago, M. Tournesol said: Here is the best list on the internet to identify mantis shrimp species: https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/ Thank you so much! 1 Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 2 minutes ago, MrsJones91011 said: He’s cute. Where did you get the rock? Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 You would need to see the meral spot to fully id the species, its on the inside of the "forearms" 1 1 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, WV Reefer said: He’s cute. Where did you get the rock? Salty Bottom Reef Co. He's currently living under the rock on the bottom right of my tank lol 2 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 4 minutes ago, Ratvan said: You would need to see the meral spot to fully id the species, its on the inside of the "forearms" OK, well if I get a decent Pic I'll post it! I'm not hopeful though 😂 1 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 10 minutes ago, Ratvan said: You would need to see the meral spot to fully id the species, its on the inside of the "forearms" 1 1 Quote Link to comment
M. Tournesol Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 (edited) Not easy 😣, there is a lot of mantis with white meral spot. Maybe Gonodactylellus espinosus?? Edited October 8, 2021 by M. Tournesol 1 Quote Link to comment
M. Tournesol Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Or Neogonodactylus curacaoensis?? This one is found in Caribbean, Florida to Panama and Curacao.(in contrary to Espinosus which is only found in center pacific) 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 I would guess at N. Wennerae or N. Bredini. It might take a few moults to truely id as they do colour change depending on collection area and depth as well as aquarium lighting playing a part 3 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 1 hour ago, M. Tournesol said: Or Neogonodactylus curacaoensis?? This one is found in Caribbean, Florida to Panama and Curacao.(in contrary to Espinosus which is only found in center pacific) @Ratvan@Ratva soooo the question is, can I leave him be?? I know once I move my CUC over, they will be in danger, but I'm not attached to them. Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Just now, MrsJones91011 said: @Ratvan@Ratva soooo the question is, can I leave him be?? I know once I move my CUC over, they will be in danger, but I'm not attached to them. How big is the Mantis? I still seem to have all of my snails but I do purposely feed mine live feeder shrimp Quote Link to comment
M. Tournesol Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Your shrimp and snail will be in danger. Your fish less, but it could still happen. Mine didn't kill any of my snails but it is still a young one. However my 30€ pistol shrimp disappear and the only possible culprits at the time where my two hitchhikers: the mantis and a small gorilla crab. 1 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 10 minutes ago, Ratvan said: How big is the Mantis? I still seem to have all of my snails but I do purposely feed mine live feeder shrimp Maybe an inch and a half?! I hate to have to kill him. The gorilla crabs on the other hand😒 it's unnerving knowing I was stacking and rearranging this rock with all of those in there. (I saw 4 👀) 1 Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Nice find! They're such a cool animal. Don't kill him. You can probably find him a home, they're in demand. You could put him in one of those breeder box things for a little while, as a temporary enclosure to find him a home. For the gorilla crabs, make sure to kill them humanely. There's evidence crustaceans feel pain. Either crush the whole body in one go so the brain is destroyed before they feel anything, or humanely euthanize with clove oil. You should have clove oil on hand anyway, in case a fish is sick or injured enough that it needs to be euthanized, but clove oil is best to humanely kill pests. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
NoOneLikesADryTang Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 That’s an excellent score! If you don’t want him, I’m sure someone in your area would take him. If you can get some better pictures, I may even be able to help identify him. Given enough time, he will kill your gorilla crabs. When we got ocean rock with gorilla crabs, we put one in with our G Ternatensis, and she killed/ate him. 2 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 5 hours ago, MrsJones91011 said: Maybe an inch and a half?! I hate to have to kill him. The gorilla crabs on the other hand😒 it's unnerving knowing I was stacking and rearranging this rock with all of those in there. (I saw 4 👀) Leave him... he will eat those crabs. CUC is easy to replace. Quick moving fish will likely be fine with such a small mantis as long as he has something to hunt or if you feed him. This is one I been following on Humblefish forums. They are a hoot and the fish always looking for handouts from the shrimp too lol 4 1 Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Aw, look at the little fella go! They're such a strange group of animals, stomatopods. Almost remind me of centipedes. I should really get a mantis one of these days, maybe in a 'fuge. 1 Quote Link to comment
MrsJones91011 Posted October 9, 2021 Author Share Posted October 9, 2021 19 hours ago, Tamberav said: Leave him... he will eat those crabs. CUC is easy to replace. Quick moving fish will likely be fine with such a small mantis as long as he has something to hunt or if you feed him. This is one I been following on Humblefish forums. They are a hoot and the fish always looking for handouts from the shrimp too lol Wow! I was thinking the same thing. Just replace the CUC as needed and keep him. I would guess a Yellow Watchman Goby would be out of the question though since they hang out down low, huh? Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Definitely don't put a shrimpgoby with a mantis. The mantis might or might not try to eat it, but would almost definitely get territorial. 1 Quote Link to comment
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