Lysiosquillina maculata - Preparation

[Kharn]

G'day

I am a marine enthusiast much like many of you and I have been interested in the stomatopods for a long time, I was wondering if anyone out there has ever kept a Lysiosquillina maculata (Zebra Mantis) and if you have, how do you go about setting the tank up to accommodate it, from the research I have done on this particular species of the genus they are quite large (40cm max) and require a sand bed (at least) 1.5x as deep as the animal is long.

I guess my question would be is how do you accommodate a Lysiosquillina maculata in an aquarium because of the abnormally deep sand bed it requires along with its capabilities of extreme reach ?

Cheers

Resource for info Dr. Roy Caldwells List of Stomatopods for Aquariums

 

[mndfreeze]

They do u shaped burrows like most don't they? If so they don't need 1.5x times their size deep of a sand bed, but still need a decent amount of depth to get that u shape proper.

I would imagine you would want a pretty high aquarium. Not sure the exact sizes but if you were worried enough about finding an aquarium pre-made that would fit you can always get a custom one built.

 

[Kharn]

They do u shaped burrows like most don't they? If so they don't need 1.5x times their size deep of a sand bed, but still need a decent amount of depth to get that u shape proper.

I would imagine you would want a pretty high aquarium. Not sure the exact sizes but if you were worried enough about finding an aquarium pre-made that would fit you can always get a custom one built.

Thank you for your swift response "mndfreeze" I am most concerned about the tanks dimensions (particular height/depth) I do have a 120cmx45cmx45cm tank that isn't being used, however because of my love & passion for stomatopods I would get a custom one built if the current tank I have just wont cut it in the height/depth department.

Cheers

 

[MantisO_o]

I have four L. maculata i have kept them in various size tanks in the past and currently. My largest one is kept in a 55 gallon (121cm by 53cm by 30cm) where he shares it with a female. I divided the tank in half with egg crate and their both in 8 inches of fine grain sand. Once their burrows are made there isn't much interaction, aside from when you feed them.

Since you have a 120cm by 45cm by 45cm translated nearly to 48inches by 18inches by 18inches. I'm guessing thats like a 75 gallon. I'm guessing you can put at least near to half the hight of the tank of sand. I think that is more then enough. If you do custom...go taller then it is wide and a tank that can hold as much sand as you can. Other wise from my experience building a custom tank taller is expensive and a long tank with as much sand you can put is enough. It will dig along the length of the aquarium then when it reaches the other side of the tank would make their second entrance. ​

 

[Kharn]

I have four L. maculata i have kept them in various size tanks in the past and currently. My largest one is kept in a 55 gallon (121cm by 53cm by 30cm) where he shares it with a female. I divided the tank in half with egg crate and their both in 8 inches of fine grain sand. Once their burrows are made there isn't much interaction, aside from when you feed them.

Since you have a 120cm by 45cm by 45cm translated nearly to 48inches by 18inches by 18inches. I'm guessing thats like a 75 gallon. I'm guessing you can put at least near to half the hight of the tank of sand. I think that is more then enough. If you do custom...go taller then it is wide and a tank that can hold as much sand as you can. Other wise from my experience building a custom tank taller is expensive and a long tank with as much sand you can put is enough. It will dig along the length of the aquarium then when it reaches the other side of the tank would make their second entrance. ​

G'day "Mantis"

I am glad to hear about your experience with these particular stomatopods, last night I found a very very good and detailed set of videos on youtube with someone that had a pair in the same tank seperated by a plastic grate, the sand bed and size of that tank seemed quite large, from the looks since there were no dimensions it was about 90cm tall and about 120cm long and maybe 40cm wide.

I am very happy to hear that my current tank can handle a L. maculata I certainly would contemplate getting a custom built tank but won't if my current tank will be good enough (no point in wasting a good tank) but if I was going to get a custom one done it would have about 1m depth, so yeah a lot of money involved in just making that tank...

=) glad to hear from an experienced keeper of these stomatopods you have boosted my confidence and enthusiasm "Mantis"

Cheers

 

[MantisO_o]

G'day "Mantis"

I am glad to hear about your experience with these particular stomatopods, last night I found a very very good and detailed set of videos on youtube with someone that had a pair in the same tank seperated by a plastic grate, the sand bed and size of that tank seemed quite large, from the looks since there were no dimensions it was about 90cm tall and about 120cm long and maybe 40cm wide.

I am very happy to hear that my current tank can handle a L. maculata I certainly would contemplate getting a custom built tank but won't if my current tank will be good enough (no point in wasting a good tank) but if I was going to get a custom one done it would have about 1m depth, so yeah a lot of money involved in just making that tank...

=) glad to hear from an experienced keeper of these stomatopods you have boosted my confidence and enthusiasm "Mantis"

Cheers

Glad it helped Let me guess video from youtube by "LeafDHNine" if not show me

 

[Kharn]

Glad it helped Let me guess video from youtube by "LeafDHNine" if not show me

Thats the one mate =D why ..... is that you ?

The tank you described for your pair of L mac's sounds vary vary much like the tank I saw setup for the pair of L mac's that LeafDHNine had.

Makes me want them more!

 

[Kharn]

Quick question for you "Mantis"

In your experience with keeping L. mac's how would you personally comment on the requirements for them, are they more difficult to keep that other stomatopods in terms of water quality and filtration requirements.

I am just after a quick sort of layout in the requirements for housing a L. mac and ONLY an L. mac there will be absolutely NOTHING else in the tank (no corals etc) I am torn between wether I need to go ALL out like you would for a reef tank or if I can just use the basics like a good powerful canister filter (im thinking Fx5).

my patience is infinite in the wait for this specific creature

 

[MantisO_o]

Thats the one mate =D why ..... is that you ?

The tank you described for your pair of L mac's sounds vary vary much like the tank I saw setup for the pair of L mac's that LeafDHNine had.

Makes me want them more!

Yes, that is I. Those are my babies

Quick question for you "Mantis"

In your experience with keeping L. mac's how would you personally comment on the requirements for them, are they more difficult to keep that other stomatopods in terms of water quality and filtration requirements.

I am just after a quick sort of layout in the requirements for housing a L. mac and ONLY an L. mac there will be absolutely NOTHING else in the tank (no corals etc) I am torn between wether I need to go ALL out like you would for a reef tank or if I can just use the basics like a good powerful canister filter (im thinking Fx5).

my patience is infinite in the wait for this specific creature

To be honest you don't need much, I have kept one in a 5 gallon bucket with no filtration to a in the tank filter, lol. You can even put him in the tank that you have. Let it create his or her burrow and then you can even put a reef in the surface around his two opening of the burrow. Believe me you want to put something in the open space above the burrow. They will stay nearly all the time in the burrow and all you see are eyes! If you are lucky they will dig next to the glass and thats the only time you can see them in their burrows. You can use whatever filtration you wish. They don't need lights and if you want to give them light...they seem to accept moderate lighting. Feeding wise anything as long its marine base...it can be frozen or live, doesn't matter. I feed mine every 2 weeks with thawed out sliversides.

 

[Kharn]

Yes, that is I. Those are my babies



To be honest you don't need much, I have kept one in a 5 gallon bucket with no filtration to a in the tank filter, lol. You can even put him in the tank that you have. Let it create his or her burrow and then you can even put a reef in the surface around his two opening of the burrow. Believe me you want to put something in the open space above the burrow. They will stay nearly all the time in the burrow and all you see are eyes! If you are lucky they will dig next to the glass and thats the only time you can see them in their burrows. You can use whatever filtration you wish. They don't need lights and if you want to give them light...they seem to accept moderate lighting. Feeding wise anything as long its marine base...it can be frozen or live, doesn't matter. I feed mine every 2 weeks with thawed out sliversides.

Mantis....what can I say but ...haha

:eek1: Your babies are more beautiful then I can possibly describe... I salute you as I type this, watching your 2 L. macs on youtube was to inspiring for me to bare, they and there setup are very impressive, that tank looks so very deep as does the sand bed in it, out of sheer curiosity how deep is that sand bed ?

Your wealth of knowledge on the L. macs seems endless you only further boost my confidence and patience in willing to obtain one, I just hope that one day I too can return the favor of some videos and pics of my own L. mac perhaps maybe even a pair!

Thank you very much for the input on how to care for L. mac's specifically, I will now go about and begin the project of setting up this 4footer for the L. mac I wish to one day obtain, I shall post pics on here for anyone interested (and in this thread).

Thanks again

EDIT: I'm all really excited now =).... I have one other small question, knowing the depth of my 4foot tank (45cm deep) how deep do you think I should make the sand bed, also how much live rock would you suggest just the avg 1.35-1.5pounds-per-gal?

Obviously the L. mac's get large and being 'strikers' they reach out, I want to give them plenty of sand to burrow but at the same time I don't really want the sand to be so deep that it could breach the water and harm itself by accident (I seen that video on youtube of that big one ripping a feeder shrimp from a red feeder stick, impressive but I worry a lot and I just thought :O what if it hits the rim...)?

 

[Gonodactylus]

I've written a two part article that will becoming out in CORAL this winter and spring on the biology of Lysiosquillids and how to care for them.

Roy

 

[Kharn]

I've written a two part article that will becoming out in CORAL this winter and spring on the biology of Lysiosquillids and how to care for them.

Roy

=) the man himself...

G'day Dr./Prof. Roy

Glad to see you took an interest in my thread along with respond in it, most certainly will be reading your new article on the L. mac's, very excited to hear that there will be an article on them specifically.

I read your information on the stomatopods religiously...its a pleasure to read, so very detailed along with very easy to understand, I often loose myself in the information you have given to us on them.

Thank you

 

[MantisO_o]

So waiting for Dr. Roy's article! and he said it has pictures too! Exciting

In the 55 gallon (208 liters) aquarium i placed about 6 to 7 inches, I think me friend 'cfsindorf' put possibly 8 to 9 inches in his set up. So between 16 to 23 cm. Oh me knowledge on them are not endless, lol. I'm still learning a lot about them...when i thought i got them figured out. They got more that meets the eye...from what Dr. Roy has told me and from what i have observed. The L maculata genders kinda act differently...like the male is slow and horrible in making his burrow but the female constructs her burrow so easily and clean! Where i'm working on another pair to get them to pair up. When i got them they said they were collected as a pair but separated them when they were collected. So i don't want to just put them together as Dr. Roy stated that these animals won't share a burrow unless mated. So I'd like to take it easy and slow reintroducing them.

I think the video that i have for the set up are not the pair i mentioned above. Its another male and female that i bought in different times. The male is 21.59 cm and the female is 15.24 cm. The males too big and the female too small for them to not pair up, while the female should be larger then the male to pair.

You know that video of the large one being feed by a red straw. I think that is actually one of Dr. Roy's adult pair! Interesting!

Well what is the thickness of your aquarium? If like one of those standard 75 gallon tanks here in the states, i say to half as its high, 22.5 cm. Since you'd have that much sand you can have less live rock. As the balance of the live sand is more to live rock...i'd say put only as much live rock you need to aquascape. The live rock would seed your sand to be live sand eventually.

 

[Kharn]

So waiting for Dr. Roy's article! and he said it has pictures too! Exciting

In the 55 gallon (208 liters) aquarium i placed about 6 to 7 inches, I think me friend 'cfsindorf' put possibly 8 to 9 inches in his set up. So between 16 to 23 cm. Oh me knowledge on them are not endless, lol. I'm still learning a lot about them...when i thought i got them figured out. They got more that meets the eye...from what Dr. Roy has told me and from what i have observed. The L maculata genders kinda act differently...like the male is slow and horrible in making his burrow but the female constructs her burrow so easily and clean! Where i'm working on another pair to get them to pair up. When i got them they said they were collected as a pair but separated them when they were collected. So i don't want to just put them together as Dr. Roy stated that these animals won't share a burrow unless mated. So I'd like to take it easy and slow reintroducing them.

I think the video that i have for the set up are not the pair i mentioned above. Its another male and female that i bought in different times. The male is 21.59 cm and the female is 15.24 cm. The males too big and the female too small for them to not pair up, while the female should be larger then the male to pair.

You know that video of the large one being feed by a red straw. I think that is actually one of Dr. Roy's adult pair! Interesting!

Well what is the thickness of your aquarium? If like one of those standard 75 gallon tanks here in the states, i say to half as its high, 22.5 cm. Since you'd have that much sand you can have less live rock. As the balance of the live sand is more to live rock...i'd say put only as much live rock you need to aquascape. The live rock would seed your sand to be live sand eventually.

Yes, Dr. Roy's article is going to be a very exciting read, I can't wait till it's out!

Was thinking along the same lines you were for the depth of sand, just wanted a more experienced opinion on it, the tank is 45cm wide x 45cm deep so a 22.5cm deep sand bed x 45cm wide should be plenty.

Find it rather funny how you have noticed the difference in the sexes and how they act, especially how the male is a lazy "bogan" and the female is a neat and tidy girl =D that is just precious! Getting them to pair up and mate seems like a very difficult challenge, I've only ever seen smashers have sex and usually after the sex they fight...when the smashers fought it was a bit of back and forth punches however, I would imagine that if 2 spearers fought (specially the large L. mac's) the winner would be decided rather quickly due to the lethal edges on there weapons and likely hood of one just impaling another? sounds like a very "edgy" moment. I can see why your so patient with them and taking your time.

Hopefully have my tank inside my room today so I can take some pics and post them on here, I WAS going to go to the marine aquarium store today (maybe this arvo now) but I woke up this morning to black skies, lightning, thunder and screaming winds...I doubt i'd even MAKE it to the pet store.... ='[

 

[Kharn]

I finally got around to moving my new tank to the location that it will be staying here are some pics of the tank and its dimensions, roughly 120cmx45cmx45cm.

This tank use to be a community tank for freshwater australian natives like barramundi, saratoga, bass etc etc but has not been used for a few years now...I recently scrubbed it clean with hot water and soap, then rinsed and filled it with water (mostly too make sure it could still hold water) then left it for 7days with the water inside, after that I drained it and gave it another scrub but in just plain hot water this time, let it dry and moved it into my room =).

here are some pics!

Overall


Length


Height


Width


EDIT: I built this tank about 7yrs ago =D

 

[Kharn]

Ok, so I went out and purchased some substrate for the tank today, I hope I haven't gone to wrong anywhere...I have some more pics of the tank as well with the substrate in it.

For the very bottom of the tank I have laid out about 1-2inchs of coarse coral sand, the reason for doing this is to create a gap at the very bottom of the tank to allow water flow down there.


Question: Is this too deep for the coarse coral sand, its about 1-2inches ?

Above this is a Fiberglass insect screen sheet, this insect screen sheet prevents the top layer mixing with the bottom layer.


Question: Should I even have this, could it give the mantis problems when it digs ?

The final or top layer of substrate is a Medium/Fine coral sand.


Question: At the moment its about 3-3.5inchs deep (8-9cm) I am thinking about adding more till its about 20cm deep making the total substrate depth around 25cm, leaving around 18cm depth of water (inc the air gap at top of tank), also...

How should I go about cleaning this sand/coral I opted for cleaning it once its in the tank and just using a gravel cleaner (I have no container that can hold all this substrate besides the tank..) but my worries lie within the water itself, do I need to clean the substrate with saltwater or can I just use tap water...I plan on filling the tank then gravel cleaning while sucking all the water out, then refilling it gravel cleaning while sucking all the water out again, I planned on repeating this until the water was clear?



Cheers!

 

[MantisO_o]

Question: Is this too deep for the coarse coral sand, its about 1-2inches ?

No, thats fine to me and good your have the screen since he or she would dig all the way to the bottom and would have thrown all that corse material to the surface.​

Question: Should I even have this, could it give the mantis problems when it digs ?

I see no problem in having this screen there and if it would bother...they would just cover it with mucus mix with sand. So, i think you are good ​

Question: At the moment its about 3-3.5inchs deep (8-9cm) I am thinking about adding more till its about 20cm deep making the total substrate depth around 25cm, leaving around 18cm depth of water (inc the air gap at top of tank), also...

How should I go about cleaning this sand/coral I opted for cleaning it once its in the tank and just using a gravel cleaner (I have no container that can hold all this substrate besides the tank..) but my worries lie within the water itself, do I need to clean the substrate with saltwater or can I just use tap water...I plan on filling the tank then gravel cleaning while sucking all the water out, then refilling it gravel cleaning while sucking all the water out again, I planned on repeating this until the water was clear?

Well if the sand is dead and nothing is living...i'd say its okay to clean it with freshwater. I personally skip that step and go strait to salt but that's just me. I'd say go with adding water to clean it once in the tank. Drain the water and then add your saltwater. Then what i do is i allow it to settle down on its own...with the canister filter. The filter would gather all the really fine material that clouds the water and would eventually get your water clearer quicker then you cleaning they way you planned. Cause you doing what you planned will never get the water to clear unless you have a lot of time on your hands"¦lol. Once it clears or nearly clear"¦clean out the canister then repeat till the water is clear. ​

 

[Kharn]

No, thats fine to me and good your have the screen since he or she would dig all the way to the bottom and would have thrown all that corse material to the surface.​

I see no problem in having this screen there and if it would bother...they would just cover it with mucus mix with sand. So, i think you are good ​

Well if the sand is dead and nothing is living...i'd say its okay to clean it with freshwater. I personally skip that step and go strait to salt but that's just me. I'd say go with adding water to clean it once in the tank. Drain the water and then add your saltwater. Then what i do is i allow it to settle down on its own...with the canister filter. The filter would gather all the really fine material that clouds the water and would eventually get your water clearer quicker then you cleaning they way you planned. Cause you doing what you planned will never get the water to clear unless you have a lot of time on your hands"¦lol. Once it clears or nearly clear"¦clean out the canister then repeat till the water is clear. ​

Thanks so much for the swift response Mantis :lol:

I was wondering about the "top" layer of Med/Fine coral sand (probably being the most important part), at the moment it is 7-8cm deep (which is the depth the mantis would be able to dig before it hits the mesh).

I asked about the COARSE coral sand depth but forgot to ask about the Med/Fine coral sand depth -_-...I know what it says in Dr. Roy's list (1.5x deep as animal is long) but at the same time I seen your insanely deep tank along with other tanks that have practically 1/2 what I got rite now....so I am torn between what I see!

One thing I know from Dr. Roy's list the deeper the better but, how deep would be too deep for my tank...bare in mind I still got this Fluval Fx5 incoming !!!

 

[Kharn]

Since you'd have that much sand you can have less live rock. As the balance of the live sand is more to live rock...i'd say put only as much live rock you need to aquascape. The live rock would seed your sand to be live sand eventually.

Also because this is dry substrate "dead" I guess I can clean it with freshwater the once before adding the saltwater, but will I need to stick with the 1.25 - 1.5 pounds of Live Rock per Gallon of water, I am starting to worry about space! :uhoh3:

 

[MantisO_o]

Thanks so much for the swift response Mantis :lol:

I was wondering about the "top" layer of Med/Fine coral sand (probably being the most important part), at the moment it is 7-8cm deep (which is the depth the mantis would be able to dig before it hits the mesh).

I asked about the COARSE coral sand depth but forgot to ask about the Med/Fine coral sand depth -_-...I know what it says in Dr. Roy's list (1.5x deep as animal is long) but at the same time I seen your insanely deep tank along with other tanks that have practically 1/2 what I got rite now....so I am torn between what I see!

One thing I know from Dr. Roy's list the deeper the better but, how deep would be too deep for my tank...bare in mind I still got this Fluval Fx5 incoming !!!

Ideal have it what Dr. Roy says, however, practically most mantis keepers don't have the right aquariums to accommodate the Lysiosquillina sp. So fill the tank to nearly half as its tall... you may maybe exceed by a several cm from half way. Most cases you will get a small L. maculata and you can control their growth by how many times you feed it. The more you feed the quicker the L. maculata would grow...less you feed the slower.

Again a trick that i do, to have it dig were i want it to start are the ends of the tank. I put live rock on the surface of the places i don't want it to start. Or i put a temporary floor tile. It will dig on the expose sand only, based on what mine have done. So, its a compromise to what Dr. Roy said...just that instead of a vertical burrow it will just go as long as the tank horizontally. Then it is 1.5x as the animal is long...it will dig down vertically to were it would start digging to a J shape. Once it hits your mesh it will dig horizontal till it hits the other side of the tank. Once your L. maculata has started the burrow construction. Having his entire body to fit in his burrow, thats the time i remove the tile or i rearrange the live rock to my desired locations. Once its down there in the substrate...it can do whatever it wants. Eventually would come to the surface having made its second entrance. As it will always have one door close and their beaty little eyes looking at you from the other opening!

Side thought, always wanted to try the Fx5 but seen those up close large bloody canisters! Pretty cool! ​