Mantis ID

[Thunnus]

I have a mantis that I have had in an 18gallon aquarium for about a year. He is solid bright yellow and he is a spearer. He is 3.5" long. Can someone tell me what species he is?

 

[sdm]

Need a pic, but sounds like a rainbow....

 

[Gonodactylus]

The most likely candidate is Pseudosquilla ciliata. The eyes should have a slight checker-board appearance.

"Rainbow" is a name that has been used for several species of stomatopod including P. ciliata. You will also see it referred to as the "false" mantis and the "false ciliated" mantis.

This is one of the most common of all stomatopods. It is found in tropical and subtropical waters all around the world except on the Pacific coast of the Americas. It is frequently seen in Hawaii, Florida and on just about any reef, reef flat or sea bed. It also has a considerable depth range. I have collected it from the low intertidal to over 40 m.

Roy

 

[sdm]

Yep, that's the one I was refering to. (it's a pic on blueboard)

 

[Thunnus]

Thanks!

 

[ReneX]

How deep a sand bed do cilliatas need, out of curiosity? I've heard they have trouble building good burrows in captivity so I was wondering about their substrate needs.

 

[Gonodactylus]

The problem is that most aquaria have clean, fine sand. In the field, P. ciliata burrow in muddy sand or sand that is stabilized by tube building organisms and plant roots. Lysiosquillids can construct burrows in fine sand because they produce lots of mucus that can be mixed with the sand to stabilize it. P. ciliata don't seem to be able to do this. A normal P. ciliata (7 cm) burrow in the field would be about 15 cm deep and 25 cm long. The burrow is often constructed under the edge of a rock.


Roy

 

[oddball_from_ac]

so sumthin like reef mud would be good? im just curius
dylan

 

[Gonodactylus]

Never tried it, but I would think it would work. If anyone has experience with this, I would like to know about it.

Roy

 

[oddball_from_ac]

from what i know of the product its used in refugeums because it doesnt trap debris, nitates, and nitrites
dylan