ID Please (and advice) =0]

[deboM3]

So ive wanted a Mantis shrimp for a year or two now, and I think im gonna get on it and buy one. A local pet store in town has this one pictured below.

Sorry for the bad pictures, but it was the best i could do. Does anyone know exactly what kinda mantis scrimp this is? They say at the store that it is a spearer, but dont know the exact type. Would it be a nice pet to have???

Also if anyone could jsut give me general advice about starting up a nice habitat for it i would appreciate it. Ive been reading alot, and i want to know exactly how to take care of it before i buy it. The guys at the store say that a glass tank would be fine, but I am not sure.

I would like to set this up for as cheap as possible while still having a nice setup for the little guy.

Any replies are appreciated.

Thanks!

Kyle

 

[Timmy]

I think it is a female Gonodactylus chiragra. I have two with exact the same color.
Both are not very active and really shy. A 40 Liter tank is recommned for a big animal.
You can read more here.

 

[deboM3]

Thank you for the reply.

I looked at Rays List, (at every species), and i did not see a spearer that looked like the one in the store, although the people working there assured me that it was NOT a smasher.

Should i pick this one up? I can order another from a different local store? Im really trying to find a good deal on a setup from someone local on craigslist or something. I cant wait to get one of these home

Thanks again for the help

 

[deboM3]

EDIT: Roy's List, Not Rays...

 

[Timmy]

The mantis on the picture is definitely a smasher.
Maybe the people in the store don't know the difference between a smasher and a spearer.
If you want a spearer then try to get a Pseudosquilla ciliata. This species is easy to keep.

 

[deboM3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8396571#post8396571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Timmy
This species is easy to keep.

Exactly what i was wanting to hear. Thanks

 

[Kati]

most definately a smasher... i doubt its a chiragra tho... the colors aren't quite right. i have a male and almost everyone i have seen has orange legs and other than that the colors are generally browns and tans. (males are darker)

 

[deboM3]

Thanks for the reply Kati. Right now im in the process of getting a tank setup for relatively cheap. Can you reccomend any place in the bay area to accomplish this task? Im at college in San Luis Obispo right now, but Im coming back to the bay area in a week or two and am going to try my luck looking there.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[mickey85]

That looks exactly like a mantis that is in a pet store here. Sadly, I'm broke (and it's $40. *sigh*)

 

[deboM3]

Wow. Its only 16 bucks at the store!

 

[Kati]

Well, DeboM3 i work at a fish store on Ocean. its called aquatic central and we actually have a g. Chiragra right now for 24.99. Our salt water section is decent right now but we are in the process expanding our SW section so it should be awsome with in the next few monthes. our tank selection is pretty slim, but we do have some good smaller tanks and substrate and things like that. PM me for the address if you are interested.

 

[Kati]

sorry ps- do u know what color the mural spots are? how about the antennual scales?

 

[deboM3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8410700#post8410700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kati
sorry ps- do u know what color the mural spots are? how about the antennual scales?

Sorry for my ignorance, but i dont know what a mural spots or antennual scales are. =0/

I think that I might find my best bet searching craigslist for a tank setup. Also, I know a girl that said she would give me one of her old 15gal plastic tanks and some of her LR/LS from her 300gal tank to start off with.

I wanna have a nice setup, but still not break the bank... Kinda hard to do.

Thanks

 

[Fuegofish777]

hey debo, to explain Kati's question. Meral spots are small circular spots on the inside of the matis' raptorial apendages (arms). they are often identified by the color or patern of these spots. so try to look on the inside of the arms, think of where your bicepts would be. the antennal scales are the paddle shaped things on its face. they are often held laterally and are usually somewhat translucent, but slight colors are usually seen. just take some time and look for those traits, it will help give a much more definite answer as to what kind it is.

 

[deboM3]

Cool, Thanks for the info. I will definitly take a closer look when i go back down to the pet store (hopefully to buy it). Ill also try to take better pictures.

Thanks again

 

[Kati]

sorry... i didnt think to explain... if you look at the menu on roy's list it has a link that shows the anatomy- That helps a lot