Difficult to acquire?

[Hwarang]

Ok so I've messaged like 12 people and haven't been quick enough to snap up their available mantis. That's ok, because in most cases they were unsure of what kind of mantis they have.

I tried emailing TBS about the mantis they sell, but they won't email me back and say what type they are.

There are a few sites like liveaquaria.com, etc, but all they sell is the peacock mantis. I was hoping to acquire a Neogonodactylus wennerae, but so far I can't find any way to get one, aside from a lucky score.

Currently I have a 2.5g tank that's been cycling about a week, waiting to be his home.

Anyone know a *good* way to acquire one of these mantis shrimps? I'd settle for another basher, as well, if it was cool looking.

 

[bkwudzjeep]

Look on the TBS site. I'm not sure on how specific the site is though. Last time I was there they had a few different types.

Maybe try to call them. The kind you are looking for are the most common I'v seen there. I actually gave mine away a few months ago....

 

[Hwarang]

Heya. Thanks for the quick reply.

That site is not specific at all (doesn't say species names, it just says "Mantis shrimp") and I've emailed them FIVE times for more info. If they're not going to respond, they should remove the "contact us with questions" links from around the site. I don't want to buy one from them unless I know what species it is. They'd probably send me an ugly brown spearer or something 180 degrees opposite from what I want.

Anyone got an extra mantis? hehe

 

[bkwudzjeep]

I know they are on the boats during the week, but try to call them on Saturday when the store is open (1-5pm?). Their office is in the shop.....it is just a matter of them walking over and looking to see what they have in the tank. They can get SWAMPED at times big time.
That is strange about them not returning e-mail.

 

[Hwarang]

Cool, I'll try that, thanks a lot for the tip.

 

[biomekanic]

It's been mentioned a couple of times on this forum already, TBS can generally ID a Neogonodactylus wennerae, but won't make any promises. They send people here for more info. OTOH, from what I've seen, by far the vast majority of mantises people get from them (intentionally or not) are Neogonodactylus wennerae, so I think the odds are pretty good that's what you'll get. If not, someone here could ID it for you.

 

[Hwarang]

That makes sense, given the home turf of wild wennerae. Thanks yet again!

 

[Hwarang]

OK, I'm convinced that TBS is either a scam company, or not a real company at all.

I called multiple times over Saturday, no luck, no answer.

So I decided to order one anyhow, they're only $10 .... so I'm filling out the order form on their website and I notice it's lacking any kind of secure processing or payment information. LOL what a joke. When clicked, the form submits your request to email and then they say they'll contact you ... which they still haven't done.

What a bunch of slackers. How lame.

 

[bkwudzjeep]

I think thier "handle" on here is "liverock". That is rediculous that they are not responding.....
All this animated, non-human garbage can sure get annoying....

 

[Hwarang]

*shrug*

Well they can run the biz any way they see fit, no matter how frustrating it is to potential customers, it's their call. I'll just try to acquire a nice specimen of N. wennerae from someone who orders TBS rock ...

 

[weedhopper]

I just took one to my LFS today. I can go by tommorow and see if they will give it back to me. You can PM me for mor details.

Later.

 

[BiGGj711]

weedhopper - i live in toledo too, right near the university, what fish store did you take him to? i'm also looking into starting a mantis tank but am having the same problem of not finding one in a LFS...

 

[weedhopper]

Sorry, I just sent it out to hwarang today.

I am however going to be ordering my 2nd part of the package next week sometime. It's possible I may find another on there.

I'll let you know when it arrives.
You can PM me if you would like more information.

Later

 

[Hwarang]

You rock, weedhopper!

I got your money order ready to send back as reimbursement

Thanks so much! Looking forward to receiving it

 

[weedhopper]

I just hope it's still alive for you. You should get it between 10:30 and 12:00 today. It is in Egan MN right now. I will PM you with the tracking # now in case you are not on now.

Good luck

 

[Hwarang]

Hiya!

Again, thanks for all your help to me, man!

When I opened the box, he wasn't looking so hot (beautiful specimen, though!), he was sluggish and on his back. The mantis was wedged into a fold of the plastic bag, but he was underwater at least. I checkd him out and he was still kicking, barely!

Over my lunch break I sped home and got him acclimating. A friend of mine is over at my place using my computer to hunt for jobs, so I have instructed him how to gently acclimate the mantis for me while I'm at work - I started the bag floating and wrote down careful instructions for a gentle acclimation.

I think the main problem is just that the water in his bag was depleted of oxygen. He perked up a little when I started him acclimating and swirled a little fresh water in there (I added about a cup, that's a lot more than I like to do, but I decided that he really needed some fresh water with oxygen in it).

*bites fingernails*

Ps I'm I'll send your money order 2nd day so you can get it on like monday or tuesday, is that ok? If not, PM me about it and I'll send it faster.

THANKS AGAIN WEEDHOPPER! WISH THE LITTLE GUY LUCK AND AN EASY ACCLIMATION!

 

[liverock]

*shrug*

Well they can run the biz any way they see fit, no matter how frustrating it is to potential customers, it's their call. I'll just try to acquire a nice specimen of N. wennerae from someone who orders TBS rock ...

Dooode

I emailed you back and called you....got a machine....as I told you today it is not cost effective to ship a mantis shrimp as there is a minimum shipping charge of $45.

I have many in stock, sell every one we get, if you want I can ship it tomorrow.

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com


BTW I answer all my email everyday, unless I am in the Keys collecting as I will be monday!

Mark dives everyday, phone calls are responded to next day, usually....there are only two of us here......

 

[Hwarang]

Hmm ... I got no email and I got no call ... I only have my cellphone and I didn't get any messages.

Chalk it up to a glitch in the matrix or something


......
The mantis is getting better by the minute. He flips over every now and then, and stops to rest often, but things are still lookin up. He's been exploring the rubble rock and has scouted a few potential homes. Also, the emerald crab hitchhiker was smart and decided not to put up a fight - once he retreated and a second time he just sat stone still and let the mantis literally walk over him!

 

[Lostmind]

Pics?!

 

[weedhopper]

Glad to hear he's still alive, Hope he made it through the night. You could just drop that in regular mail, it's only a few states away.
Was that the species you wanted?
Good luck and let me know how everything goes.