Blood red mantis shrimp

[GatorDrew]

I have, what I believe to be, a mantis shrimp. He's got the famous "tap" and I've seen him successfully kill two emerald crabs.

Anyway, I've finally got the sucker out of my display tank and he's now in the refugium. What's good here is that my refugium is just beginning so theres very little rock. Basically, I can easily see him now and he can't destroy anything.

My plan is to eventually get an acrylic tank or something so he can't break the glass.

Anyway, I'm curious about what kind he is. My camera is broke right now, so I'm going to be as descriptive as possible. He's basically BLOOD red throughout. He's got what seems to be a "fan" looking tail. He's got some antennae and, of course, those beedy eyes.

I thought he was a peacock, but he doesn't have an inch of green on him. Oh, that reminds me, he's about 3" long.

So, does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you!

 

[Angel7989]

Its posible its a peacock, they vary from red to green the easiest way to determine if it were a Odontodactylus scyllarus aka peacock would be to look for Leopard spots on anterior lateral carapace. I havnt heard of many cases of O.S's hitch hiking though. without more information or a picture the best i can do is point you to Dr. Roy's ID website http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/
Good luck and welcome to the world of mantis keeping =D oh and I wouldnt be too worried about upgrading to an acrylic tank there has only been about 3 or 4 cases of mantis breaking glass and all of the Mantis's were over 7inches long

 

[jonathanws]

pics!!!

 

[DanInSD]

Could be a full-grown N. wennerae. They are often brick-red. Where is your rock from?

Dan

 

[Pea-brain]

Its not likely to get much bigger and won't be able to break glass.

Dan

 

[justinl]

If it is an N. wennerae, then yeah i agree with dan, it wouldnt be able to break glass.

Try to get some pics. IDing a mantis by a description usually isnt a very good idea. that said, I believe it will end up being an N. wennerae as well.