Can a mantis change color in a day?

[hot4teacher]

So I got a good 20 lbs of live rock from Okinawa and after 2 months, finally discovered I had not only one, but two mantis. One is jet black, about 1 1/2" long and as wide as a pencil.

The one that has changed color was solid light green, about 1" long and thinner. Now it is almost white. I am not sure if it is the same mantis but it has gone in the hole the other one was living as of this morning.

I know factually they are both from Okinawa.

Is it possible I have another mantis or 'greenie' has gone 'whitie'?

Dana

 

[dragonforce]

Many mantis can change colors but it is also possible that it was a different one

 

[Gonodactylus]

The only way they can change color that dramatically in one day is if they molt. The darker pigment in the old cuticle is shed revealing the new cuticle with a different set of pigments. A one inch animal can molt and act normally in a day or two, so it is certainly possibe that the animal molted. However, gonodactyloids this small can be very secretive and you could have another one.

Roy

 

[hot4teacher]

Thank you for the replies dragonforce and Gonodactylus! The better news is it could be another mantis. Still, if it has molted that should also be a good sign it's growing. It's been in a live rock curing tub for 2 months and I started noticing crab legs scattered about. And a gradual decrease in crab population led me to believe someone was up to no good.

Dana

 

[hot4teacher]

Great News!

During breakfast time, I was placing some mysis shrimp around to lure out the mantis. Low and behold the green one came out first. 3 minutes later, the white one came out! A cream color.

2 mantis! Score!

Dana