Mantis Species at LFSs

[DevinWolfe]

Does anyone know if any of our LFSs (AM, CR, F&S, or Aquarium) has stocked either of these Mantis species;

Gonodactylus Smithii
Neogonodactylus Wennerae


Basically I am looking for a shallow water species that stays fairly small and is a smasher as I would like to keep a Damsel or two with it.

It must be a shallow species because the tank it will be in has a 150W MH fixture so that I can keep a couple corals.

All I have ever seen at most of them are peacocks/clowns, which are beautiful, but can't handle much light.

Any recommendations or input would be most welcome.


Edit: I know that being a smasher makes no promise that it will not devour the Damsel, but my research has led me to believe the odds of survival are MUCH higher than with a spearer.

 

[Engloid]

There's one at Coral Reef that's solid yellow. Not sure what kind it is though.

 

[DevinWolfe]

I'll stop by and check it out on my way home. I am really just hoping to find a shallow species locally as I would hate to buy another invert online.

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[DevinWolfe]

I came across a beautiful female Gonodactylus Chiragra today at Coral Reef. Mostly olive colored like Smithis but with bright purple on her underside.

As it turns out this species can handle higher light than the Wenerae and Smithi so she will be an even better match.

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[macclellan]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Engloid]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Yeah, where's that BS flag smiley?

 

[DevinWolfe]

Been at Ripley's Aquarium all day and visited the parents or I would already have some up. She's in that 14g ik picked up from you, Joel. The same tank that is is currently housing my w weird hermits and the horseshoe crab.

I was gonna put up some pics of the new penguin exhibit when i get home but I GUESS I can put off my own desires for those of you random internet guys... I will see if I can coax her out of hiding with some PE Mysis for some quick shots.

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[Steve W]

You might want to be a little careful of her. Was watching a documentary on Discovery last night and they were showing one. It was trying to attack Attenburough through the glass of the aquarium. Apparently they don't call them thumb-splitters for nothing.

They also get quite large for a shrimp - 4 to 6 inches. (Hummm! - throw another shrimp on the barbie?)

Steve W

 

[DevinWolfe]

Couldn't get her out with just the Mysis, so I removed her PVC pipe (that needed to come out anyway) and she went exploring for a new place to dig in.

I found her first victim. It USED to be a white hermit that I removed from my reef because it was FREAKISHLY fast and it worried me that it may have been dangerous to my corals.

 

[DevinWolfe]

Yeah, all of my reading has lead me to believe that these are the single largest and most aggressive of the Gonodactylus species. She already popped me once through the bag while I was acclimating her. It DOES hurt...

 

[macclellan]

Yeah, all of my reading has lead me to believe that these are the single largest and most aggressive of the Gonodactylus species. She already popped me once through the bag while I was acclimating her. It DOES hurt...

Yikes!

 

[DevinWolfe]

I think I'll name her Laila Ali (Muhammad Ali's daughter).

Or Sarah Kerrigan... too bad she's not a spearer.