Loki

[sandlot13]

I would like to introduce everyone to my newly aquired mantis shrimp, Loki!

Just got it in the mail this morning (through priority shipping for reference.... it was shipped on tuesday morning, arrived on thursday morning) and it seems completely healthy and very inquisitive.

any chance on an ID of this guy? male or female? so far Loki is enjoying the tank that i placed it in, already defending it against the evil finger that points him out to other people.

Ill keep everyone posted on the outtakes of Loki's life as I go along.....

 

[Salty Bginners]

whatever it is it looks really cool
congrats

 

[DragonFish]

Where did you get it?

 

[sandlot13]

a fellow reefer on another website had finally caught it out of his liverock and didnt want to kill it........ good thing I found him before his wife decided to execute it!

 

[n00b2SWF]

congrats!!

 

[Timmy]

I think it is a female Gonodactylus smithii! There is a red knob at the base of the uropods. Take a look at the meral spots. They should be maroon to purple with white ring around.
Nice color.

 

[Hutton]

the reason im saying smithii is because of his or her smashers, the purple and the oinkish part are what most smithiis have

how can you tell its a female? the pic is a little to blurry to make out any naughty areas

 

[sandlot13]

I was thinking smithii as well, but the coloring of the rest of the mantis is quite unique from any other smithii that ive seen...... I too would also like to know how you identified it as a female........... Maybe Dr. Roy will get a chance to look at at

sorry bout the blurry pics by the way...... the good digi cam was taken from me for the week, so I wont have anything spectacular until it gets back!

 

[Timmy]

I too would also like to know how you identified it as a female

I think there are no tubes on the third legs.
Take a look at my pic and then you can look at your mantis. If there are two tubes on the third legs it is a male.

 

[sandlot13]

ah! gotcha...... i was curious how to identify sex in stomatopods. Thanks Timmy, ill check and see what i can see...........

 

[psychodave]

that is a sweet mantis! The colors on it are amazing!

 

[sandlot13]

oh trust me dave, those pictures do not do her justice......... so far, my jaw has only dropped about 4 times, but ya....... Ill work on getting a better camera so I can get some real pictures of Loki. By far the coolest mantis ive ever seen in real life!

tanner g.

 

[psychodave]

Awesome! Cant wait to see the full color of that beauty!!