ID please- bought in Chicago

[ck1]

Hi everyone!
I was at IMAC this weekend and when we went to a couple of LFS in the area, I happened to find a tiny little mantis for sale. I have never seen one so small in person- and could not resist going back on the last day of IMAC and buying him.
I have a male g. ternatentis already- so I am familiar with mantis and their care. And I have another nano tank that I can add this new one into once I have a positive ID. I am keeping it in a small plastic container with flow holes until I have get exact info.
Please take a look at these pics and let me know what you think. The mantis is a 3/4 inch- appears to be a smasher- green/ dark geen and I think I have seen a pattern of white spots on its back. It is so tiny I have not seen the meral spots and it is hard to get a good pic. I haven't had a chance to look thru Roy's ID thread alot as I have got to get to bed ASAP and begin a boring work week after 3 days of IMAC and all things marine related.
I was told at the store that this mantis was found in a tank that was taken down- 2 other mantis were also removed- a peacock that sold right away and another smaller mantis. I am not sure how helpful this info is in ID'ing- as I do not think the store was very mantis knowledgeable....but at least they did not kill and and had it listed for sale- and that is always a step in the right direction.
I might be able to get some more pics- hopefully better pics as he/she is still in a specimen container in the nano. Let me know what you think! He/she is sooo tiny- I have never seen a tiny mantis in person before- and being a mantis enthusiast I could not resist!!!

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[ck1]

any ideas anyone? I can try to get better pics- but this mantis is pretty tiny. I am not sure I can get meral spots in a pic- and I have not seen them yet.

Does the body shape and color give any clue? Most likely must be a common hitchhiker although I have no way of knowing where the rock was from since it was removed from a reef tank. It looks like a smasher to me.
Maybe when it is not as shy I will be able to get better pics.

 

[gharner]

personally i think it kinda looks like a gonodactylaceus falcatus. then agian im not an expert at all hahaha. someone else will hopefully give you there opinion.

 

[Guygettnby]

looks like an N. Wennerea to me but cant be sure without seeing the meral spots.

 

[ck1]

Right now I have this little guy in a 1 cup container with holes drilled for flow. There is some rubble rock in there for him. He is so tiny that even in a 1 cup container I have to look to find him as he hides in the rubble.

I am debating what I would like to do with him- I was originally just going to release him into the 12 gallon nano with my clownfish- but I am afraid that I will never see the tiny little thing again. I don't feel the clowns are in any danger at all.

I am considering setting up a small tank for him- 6 gallons or under. Any suggestions anyone?

I am waiting to release him into a tank until I know where I want it to be- because he is so tiny I might have a hard time finding him again.

I have been feeding it pellets- Tetra Microcrabs. I tried to feed thawed mysis- but it was 1/2 the size of the mantis. I don't think it would be able to hunt much to kill other than pods. What else should I feed a mantis so small???

 

[kdblove_99]

yeah, That is too hard to tell from the pics

 

[TrappedMetal]

to be fair if its half the size of the mantis its fair game especially how soft mysis is!