Mantis from the gulf!
- Thread starter kentrob11
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Gonodactylus
Premium Member
I assume you are talking about Neogonodactylus wennerae from the Tampa area. This species reaches a maximum size of around 7 cm. Colors depend on habitat and depth from which the individual was collected. Most are brown, orangish, or green. In a lighted aquarium, they will often change color after a few months to green, but it requires a molt to do this.
I'm not sure what you mean by a "colorful" animal. The quick answer is that N. wennerae is as colorful as any species I know from the Gulf of Mexico. N. curacaoensis does get into the Keys and has spectacular colors, but you don't find it in live rock shipments from Tampa.
If you mean Odontodactylus scyllarus, the "clown", "painted", or 'Harlequin" mantis, it is from the Indo-Pacific.
Gonodactylus
I'm not sure what you mean by a "colorful" animal. The quick answer is that N. wennerae is as colorful as any species I know from the Gulf of Mexico. N. curacaoensis does get into the Keys and has spectacular colors, but you don't find it in live rock shipments from Tampa.
If you mean Odontodactylus scyllarus, the "clown", "painted", or 'Harlequin" mantis, it is from the Indo-Pacific.
Gonodactylus
Python73
New member
I have a sweet little N. Wennerae from my TBS rock. He is 2" or so and neon/lime green. He was brown and blue when he arrived in the rock, but just like Gonodactylus said, he changed after a molt or two. I've had him in a 6g Eclipse tank in my computer room since last April.
I looked at this mantis as a "starter" since I wanted a O. Scyllarus like everyone else. But I can't ditch him at this point, he's been a great pet and is really an attractive animal. Maybe my next mantis will be an O.S.
S !
I looked at this mantis as a "starter" since I wanted a O. Scyllarus like everyone else. But I can't ditch him at this point, he's been a great pet and is really an attractive animal. Maybe my next mantis will be an O.S.
S !
