Fastest Claw in the West.

Steve C

Steve C

New member
This is sort of an intro but felt it would be more appreciated here than the general intro threads.

It is great to come across a forum that Dr Roy Caldwell is an active member. My fascination with Mantis shrimp started at an early age when I saw a BBC documentary called 'The Fastest Claw In The West' which featured Roy and showed some of the experiments being carried out, recognition of individuals and recognition of coloured boxes containing food. I have managed to acquire a VHS copy of the documentary recently. I have digitally converted it but the quality is not very good.

I have a long standing Pseudosquilla ciliata which I have had going on 4 years now and a recently acquired what I think is Gonodactylellus viridis, hides a lot, that was going to be flushed down a toilet.

Haven't managed to get any shots of the G. Viridis yet but heres some snaps of the P. ciliata

mantisSHrimp5.jpg


mantisSHrimp3.jpg


mantisSHrimp1.jpg



Steve.
 
Very cool! Good looking mantis! Love the goldish/yellow color!

Have you youtube'd the documentary yet? Id be interested in watching it if possible
 
Thanks. Would be happy to, not sure of the legality of that. If it's ok I will put it on there.
 
othercents said:
Nice looking P. Ciliata. Looks female to me. You house any fish with it?
Click to expand...

othercents said:
Already on YouTube. This is a three part series.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHJ9Nvc-s8

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkG4pnwNzc4

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua794XPMUlg
Click to expand...

Thanks, yes female. I have tried small fish but I knew it was food so it didn't last long, it was interesting watching here trying to catch it.

Yes thats the documentry. Not sure why it has been split into three. It's not very long.

Thanks
 
Steve C said:
Thanks, yes female. I have tried small fish but I knew it was food so it didn't last long, it was interesting watching here trying to catch it.

Yes thats the documentry. Not sure why it has been split into three. It's not very long.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Wow pretty interesting! I believe it was split into three parts because before about a year ago, youtube videos had to be ten minutes or under. I think now you can upload much longer ones.
 
Steve C said:
I have tried small fish but I knew it was food so it didn't last long, it was interesting watching here trying to catch it.
Click to expand...

Have you tried any fish that was at least twice as big as she is? You could probably get a Green Chromis for real cheap and on a larger size. I keep trying to see what size fish is required for a P. Ciliata to leave it alone.

Steve C said:
Yes thats the documentry. Not sure why it has been split into three. It's not very long.
Click to expand...

At one time the Youtube limit was 10 minutes. I think they have upped it to 15 minutes now.
 
Has the P. ciliata always been orange? They usually change to a different color after a few months in captivity. What is your lighting?

Roy
 
othercents said:
Have you tried any fish that was at least twice as big as she is? You could probably get a Green Chromis for real cheap and on a larger size. I keep trying to see what size fish is required for a P. Ciliata to leave it alone.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried, She is probably pushing 4" so i think it would need to be quite large to not be a target. The tank is a 40l square and I feel not big enough for a fish that I would consider not at risk. I would think a tall fish like a large damsel or tang shaped fish would be ok if large enough.
 
Gonodactylus said:
Has the P. ciliata always been orange? They usually change to a different color after a few months in captivity. What is your lighting?

Roy
Click to expand...

When I first got her she was bright yellow and I had always thought she would change colour. she has probably grown 1.5" -2" over the time I have had her and the colour has only really changed to the colour above. The lighting is standard freshwater sectrum I guess designed for freashwater fish and plants. I guess it has a slight orange tinge rather than bright white light. The general colour of the rock is the usual coraline algae browns and greens.

As mentioned above, Good to see you on here.

Thanks
Steve
 
Beautiful Ciliata. Interesting that your G. Viridis hides a lot. So does mine, I only see it when I'm feeding for the most part.

Gonna have to check out those youtube vids. Never seen any :eek:
 
nirvanaandtool said:
Beautiful Ciliata. Interesting that your G. Viridis hides a lot. So does mine, I only see it when I'm feeding for the most part.

Gonna have to check out those youtube vids. Never seen any :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am hoping my Viridis becomes more open, I am training mine to take food from a stick and hopefully I will be able to intise it to come out to get the food. I am desperate to get a decent pic it.
 
What gallon tank is it in? I'm researching types of mantis that can go in a five gal long fluval spec V to be precise
 
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