Mantis ID/Coloration

[greenfishies]

Does the color of a mantis change over time? I recieved one that I beleive may be a peacock but the colors are very drab. It is about 1-1 1/4" long. It is a smasher. The attenae scales are clear but seem to have an irridescent concentric oval pattern. There are 3 short vertical stripes at the tip of the tail that appear to be green. The overall color is a translucent brownish-green with legs almost clear but yellow from halfway down to the tips. Dark spotting on the raptoral appendages. I hope to get pics because I'm sure it is frustrating just guessing on what I have given. Any other observations that I might make to help further any ID? I have had this thing for about 1/2 hr now and it is about the most interesting thing I have come across in a long time. Thanks.

 

[greenfishies]

Eating..

Eating..

It just ate for the first time since I got it. I went to the tank and siphoned out some mysids and gammarus..he smashed one of the big gammarus and ate it. It was so cool. I couldn't believe how loud the clicking sound was for such a small animal.

 

[dapel]

Yeah they're soemthing!

 

[slylie]

While its true stomatopods become more colored after time, i doubt you would have received a 1 inch peacock.

 

[greenfishies]

why not? do you have any guesses then?

 

[crafty_50mitchell]

I dont have any personal experience keeping peacock's I can tell you that, from what I understand, female's of this species can be identified by a dull (by comparison to the males) coloration.
Brian

 

[Gonodactylus]

It is probably not O. scyllarus. They settle out as postlarvae at about this size, but as soone as there is any color, the antennal scales have the typical coloration. More likely it is a gonodactylid.

Roy

 

[greenfishies]

thanks dr roy...