Approaching a LFS about giving me a Mantis...

[ZLTFUL]

So, how exactly would I go about approaching a LFS about giving me a mantis?
I have heard stories of the few local stores killing them or throwing them out and want to hit them up about them giving me one of the next ones they come across...problem is, I know noone at those stores as I do little to know business with the,

So how would you approach it?

I am looking to set up a 20 long as a nothing but Mantis killing field for a fiesty little mantid friend. For once in my life, I am absolutely hooked on a part of a hobby. Mantids absolutely fascinate me and I figure the best way to learn about them is to observe one day in and day out.

At this point, whatever I can get my hands on is fine but I prefer the smashers. Spearers look like fun in their own right but I was known as a brute force squad leader in my Army days so a head on clobbering attack appeals to me.

 

[Thurge]

Without having built up a good rapor with a LFS, getting them to "give" you one is going to take some serious talking. They have no incentive to do it. Its kind of like the guy they know who does all his buisness on line, asking questions about fish selection and equipment. There is no money in it. Sure they may toss it in for the trigger to annilate, but it also saves them having to feed the trigger for a day or two. Which makes more cents, give a mantis to someone who they don't really know from a hole in the ground and may or may not come back, or save on feeding costs? Granted its just cents, but this is also buisness.
If I were in your shoes, setting up a tank, I would do some price comparisons and some BSing about setting up tanks. Then when I had found one with good prices, selection, and a reasonably knowledgable staff, I would buy everything I need to set the tank up from them, again BSing about Mantis. Even ask then how often do they run across them. I would even give them some contact info, for when they do find one. I woudn't expect its going to be free though.

Your best bet for a free mantis is to get involved with your local reef club and keep an eye out for someone ordering Live Rock from Tampabaysaltwater.com. Or better yet when you buy your LR, buy from TBS. They almost always seem to send an extra hitchhiker or two.

 

[Agu]

Or better yet when you buy your LR, buy from TBS. They almost always seem to send an extra hitchhiker or two.

That's true but you'll probably get an wennerae which will be dwarfed in a 20 gallon tank if it's supposed to be the centerpiece.

Instead of taking whatever shows up you might want to order exactly what you want and pay for it ?

 

[ZLTFUL]

True. But I am a cheapskate by nature. Bad in this hobby but the care of my animals is one of the few things I will not do on the cheap.

That being said, I am willing to pay for exactly what I want but I also wouldn't mind the suprise of getting something strange and rare as a hitchhiker.

 

[Bud's Reef]

If you belong to a local club let the members know you are looking for one. Sometimes they find them in their LR and just wat to get rid of them.

 

[psychodave]

The LFC I go to on a regular basis always hooks me up. But Ive been going there for 2 years now and hitting the shop to talk to the employees and buy whatever I need al least once every 2 weeks. I made friends with one of the girls who works there and she calls me every time they find a mantis and ask me if I want it. Though I havent gotten one of those calles lately.

You are going to have to BS with them and build some sort of relationship like Thurge said...

 

[ZLTFUL]

Or I could make friends with one of the girls there.

Problem is, one of the LFS here has a bad reputation. Although I have never had any issues with them. And the other seems more interested in maintainung his Shark and Ray tank than actually getting any decent SW livestock on a regular basis.