Got a new one!

[30mini]

Okay, so while I was at my local reef meeting, I saw that the person that was hosting (Scott Wilson, who owns www.justcoral.com) had a mantis in a rock of his zoas! So, I mentioned it to him, and he told me, $5 for the rock, and he even threw in some snail eggs, and two hermit crabs... SOLD!!! So, even though there aren't many zoa's on the rock, no big deal! I got a new mantis for $5!!! Anyways, I know that you need pictures to ID and all, but this guy is TINY!! If I can get him out of the rock he is in, which I am trying, I will get pictures of him. But, in the mean time... He is about 1/2" long, and has black and white stripped bands down his whole body. He is a smasher, b/c when I put the feeding straw in there, I can hear the clicks. Just wondering if anyone had an idea? I didn't really see one on Roy's list that looked like this little guy. Hope someone has a thought at least? Thanks, in advance, for the help everyone!

 

[Dave Legacy]

Clicks are just an impact sound and could very well be a spearer. White and black sounds like one of the Lysios, but they evidentally don't inhabit rock crevices unless it's maybe a juvenille behavior?

 

[Gonodactylus]

There are only a few black and white stomatopods. P. ciliata - but that is a spearer, and members of the Haptosquilla glyptocercus clade. That would be my guess, but you said it didn't look like H. hamifer?

Roy

 

[30mini]

It could quite possibly be a H. Hamifer, but I haven't gotten it to come all the way out yet! It is very small, and I have him in my fuge at the moment, trying to get him to come out so I can get a good look at him! His permanent home will be the fuge, b/c Walter is in the main tank! I'll try and get him out if I can to get pictures!

 

[30mini]

Okay, so I still haven't been able to get him out yet. I did, though, find that he may look a little bit like the H. Glyptocercus. Still not totally positive, but it has the white markings a little like this one does. The second picture, http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...acostraca/royslist/images/h_glyptocercus2.jpg ,is kind of what the part that I can see looks like. At least near his head. Hopefully I'll get him out soon enough!

 

[30mini]

So, I got a really good look at him last night, and he is almost definately a H. Glyptocercus. He has the same white spots going down his side that are in the picture. Still trying to get him out without harming him and the zoas that are on the rock!

 

[Gonodactylus]

H. g are very cavity oriented and do not come out very often. They typically feed from the entrance of their cavity darting out to grab passing prey.

The while spots are more typical of juveniles. As they get older they usually lose them.

Roy

 

[30mini]

Roy, what would be best to feed this little guy? He is in my fuge right now, and there is a lot of Mysis in there, and some bristles and a few baby snails and brittle stars. Is that sufficient for him?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Probably. We feed ours live adult brine (with Selco) as well as bits of fresh shrimp.

Roy