Lysiosquillina maculata - Preparation

[Kharn]

Burrow Construction Videos!

Burrow Construction Videos!

G'day all

I managed to make a long film (1hr 12min) of the L.mac creating the surface entrance/exit to on portion of his burrow, knowing that they create large "U" shape burrows all I can say is that it is the start of it. The vid clearly shows the point at which the L.mac is resting on flat sand above the sand surface to the point where the L.mac is practically capable of hiding itself completely so its all there. I broke the vid down into smaller 10min clips each still hardly expect anyone to watch the entire volume of the vids.

Part 1 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1u4J8w95FU

Part 2 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0bF87KoZgg

Part 3 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4Nh70uTlrU

Part 4 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMqM-lxlZYY

Part 5 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqJ06s8S-YM

Part 6 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w68jlovqL4

Part 7 of 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQckBTsV_wU

The strangest thing that I didn't expect was this morning when I woke up, after being asleep for a good 11hours I slept in :lol2: and went to bed early product of getting up early to get the mantis from the air port anyway..... when I woke up this morning and considering the vast amount of burrow work the mantis got to last night which I would say it easily hit the bottom of the tank because it was bringing up large pieces of coarse coral sand from the bottom section (not the Large chunks of coral that is separated by the fly screen sheet) along with when ever the 4.5 inch mantis went into its burrow It would completely disappear so it had a lot more depth to it burrow by the evening...ANYWAY.

When I woke up I expected to see it maybe of dug out from one end of the tank to the next BUT....it completely destroyed its burrow it just made ? I was unaware of this and since only 1 of 2 things could of happened

1) cave in
2) mantis destroyed it

Because there is NO SIGN of a burrow now and the mantis is on the sand surface again swimming about intently and resting on the sand at random.

EDIT: 10mins ago the L.mac started to burrow again...LOL

 

[burnah]

NICE! love your setup, amazed that you set up a tank that big for a species only. we want more pics!

 

[Kharn]

NICE! love your setup, amazed that you set up a tank that big for a species only. we want more pics!

Thanks for your interest =)

The tanks primary purpose is most definately to accomodate a L.mac or pair of L.mac(s) but that hasen't stopped me from getting a vast amount of other critters, fish and corals all of which (besides the coral) will dissappear slowly in time as the L.mac makes it's choice upon whom is the next victim.

This is a vid of my L.mac striking at a fish, I don't know if it was an predation strike (full extension) or a defensive strike (last raptorial digit stays closed) as he was still in the process of building his tunnel so I am leaning towards defensive, I left the little fish in his enclosure over-night but it was still alive the next morning, so he obviously aint hungry yet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsfLAxPlWIw&feature=player_profilepage

Many more to come =D I realllllly want a better camera

EDIT: After I get the sump plumbed in and operating I will post pics and vids of my overall setup too, its turned out far better then I ever imagined it would!

 

[Kharn]

Update =)

LifeReef HOB Overflow Prefilter arrived this morning :celeb3: thanks to Jeff at LifeReef!!!

With this item now in my hands I can plumb the sump into the DT toomorow =D I shall post many pics of the overall process along with the LifeReef Overflow box alone, at first when I saw the package on the box I was like "SAY WAT?!?! NO FRAGILE STICKERS!?!!?!"

Then I opened it ................

A BILLION noodless came flying out at me...I realized then that it was more then secure and safe within the confines of the carton =D

Pics to come when I knock off work!

 

[Kharn]

LifeReef HOB Prefilter/Overflow Arrival!

LifeReef HOB Prefilter/Overflow Arrival!

Update

As I mentioned this afternoon, my HOB overflow arrived today in the mail!

Like I stated earlier upon initially opening the carton I ended up eating a mouth of foam noodles lol but the good thing was I could see that all of the parts were safe and intact =) I was very impressed with the packaging =D.


It was far cheaper then any of my local store ones, even though it had to be shipped from half way around the world...

Overall of goods purchased from LifeReef =D


=D LifeReef!


I'll get pics posted once I get it up and running!!!

:beer:

 

[Kharn]

Sump

Sump

G'day all viewers =)

I finally finished most of the sump off and have it in position as well =D I hope to have it all plumbed in by tomorrow and by the following weekend have it up and running :bounce2: I had to create a stand that slots over the current DT stands shelf, because the shelf is far to weak to hold a sump this size...I made this stand at work out of steel which I painted black then had some cushion feet added to each leg along with a sheet of styrofoam on top beneath the sump, like you would a normal tank =). The return pump I am using is a Eheim compact+ 2000 rated at 264-528GPH with an output diameter of 20mm, the Overflow box is rated at 600GPH but can go either way depending on the pumps size =).

 

[PJtree23]

Updates...did the mantis survive!

 

[Kharn]

Updates...did the mantis survive!

Sorry what xD ?

This build is completed (prolly should of noted that....)

Completed & Complete success, in saying that it served its purpose its taught me a LOT about mantis shrimps, time for the real deal, you should check on my "Ultimate Multi Mantis System(s)" thread for my current project as this tank is being torn down to make room for the next tanks.

Either way in direct answer to your question about survival, I haven't lost 1 mantis yet (knocks on wood) and I am up to 9 total now.