At what size can you tell the difference between a peacock mantis and others?

[Fish Monger]

Hello everyone! I have been researching mantis' lately, and I've decided that I want to get a peacock as small as possible, so that I can keep it for as long as possible. I've called up some LFS, and they have told me that peacocks are hard to distinguish from other mantis when they are smaller than 3 in. If I understand correctly, the spots on the side of the "head" are a clear indicator of a mantis being a peacock. Do those spots only show up at a certain age/size? Thanks everyone!

 

[Mr. Manty]

The only mantis i could even imagine being mistaken for a baby peacock at first glance would be an O. Havanensis. Even then, not hard at all to tell apart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJWC_czMuY0 This is a 3 inch or so peacock.

 

[Jlentz]

The eyes are a good clue


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[sjmantis]

Here's a fairly small one I had at some point, he had a lot of blue tones for some reason.

http://imgur.com/a/fKs75

 

[Gonodactylus]

The smallet O. scyllarus I have photographed was just under 50mm and it had all of the characteristic markings of the species. The eyes are proportionally bigger as is the telson fan. In postlarvae that have just settled out the first distinguishing markings are the pairs of dark spots that appear on each abdominal segment. The dark spots that occur on the carapace are not unique to O. scyllarus. O. japanicus also has them.

Roy

 

[Hadla]

Omg that is the cutest peacock mantis I've ever seen!!!

 

[Jlentz]

Omg that is the cutest peacock mantis I've ever seen!!!

Ditto.


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[Fish Monger]

Thanks for all of the helpful advice!