Hi my name is Heather and I am addicted to my mantis shrimp, Roger! :D

Hadla

Mantis Whisperer
Love that there's a forum just for my new favorite sea creatures! Here is my little Roger (named after Roger from American Dad). I've had him since June of last year; he's about 4-5 inches now. He had a 10g to himself up until December when I finally got a biocube. I am now looking to get him his own acrylic tank which will be used as a future sump for my 55.
 

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Very nice stomatopod.

Perhaps invest in a 28ish gallon tank for Roger as he seems to be getting a little big for a 10 gallon.

Welcome to the forums
 
Thanks :) was thinking around 30ish gallons(whatever I can find cheap on Craigslist!) he's in my 29g biocube right now
 
Thanks :) is that a peacock in your avatar? If so, I'm always amazed at how different each stomatopod of the same species can look! I was lucky enough to see the one at the Monterey bay aquarium and his colors were different from Roger.
 
Lol shows how much I know... Is it easy to tell the gender? I just call Roger a he cause it's easier
 
There is a way to tell gender. Inbetween the last pair of legs and first set of pleopods (swimming things) there will be two sticks (penis) in an inward position creating a V shape.. which would mean male.

Unforunately, the sad thing about O. scyllarus is males are increasingly becoming very very rare. Some of us here claim to never have encountered a male (I got two in a row! brags :wildone:)

Regarding the care:

If you can, try and get a 40 breeder. It's one of the best size tanks for a peacock.

I can't tell if you have provided a burrow, but make sure he/she has a well made burrow preferably made of PVC pipe to guarentee proper structure as well as rubble or other building materials to close the entrance up with during molting periods.

EDIT: Ninja'd on the sexing.
 
Lol, yeah he has his little cave right now, was planning on just putting some large lr pieces in the future 40g and letting him do what he wants to it :) thanks for the sexing info! Will have to try to get a good look when I get home from work
 
Our numbers are growing, soon an LFS will be an LMS, first aquatic stores, then the world. I too have never seen a male o.scyllarus so I call that beginners luck, females are hardier against shell rot though so on balance I'd rather a female.
 
Lol yes I'm happy to be in the ranks! Just gave Roger a live clan from Safeway and he's happily punching away on it :)

At the time I got Roger, it was the first and only time I've seen one at an lfs... A reef store near me also had two, but Roger was the one that caught my eye and heart <3 I haven't seen any in any lfs since...

Oh and wanted to ask: how can I prevent shell rot? If it's possible... :(
 
Low lighting and place to hide is effective at prevention, then just keep good parameters. I've only ever seen one mantis in an lfs and that was also an o.scyllarus. They are usually a behind the counter deal... In my country you need friends in high places ;)
 
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