Gonodactylaceus ternatensis

[rudyistaken]

I am picking up a large male today. How many keep these? What are they like as far as personality. This one has grown up in a large reef aquarium never noticed until I saw him. Tank is being taken down today and I get the Mantis.

would a 20 gallon glass reef tank be suitable for this guy?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Typically, G.t live in the center of branching corals and are fairly secretive - hence why he went unnoticed. Some individuals will become more interactive at least to the point of coming to the glass to be fed.

G.t, particularly large males, are prone to shell disease. Most of the males that I have had developed it. I really don't know how to prevent it except to offer a dark cavity and maintain good water quality.

The largest male I've seen (a record for the species) was 124 mm long (tip of eyes to tip of telson). That would be pushing it for a 20 gal, but the usual 3.5 " male would do well in a 20 gal.

Roy