mantis tank lighting and ident

[surfnvb7]

I currently got a <1" mantis hiding in a tiny rock getting ready to go into a minibow 7g. I read a couple threads about low actinic lighting brought out the best colors and was wondering what was best...

I have a 32w 50/50 retro that fits perfectly in the canopy. Will this be ok for the mantis or too much? Or would a 13w T8 actinic bulb be better? (if they even make those)

Also, since he's so small its so hard to figure out if he is a smasher or a spearer. Can anyone direct me to a link that shows a really good close up pic of what to look for?

 

[Gandy]

Find out what kind of mantis you got because some are more sensitive to brighter lights. My pseudosquilla ciliata loves the light and is quite active under two 10 watt 50/50's in a ten gallon.

 

[rwhhunt]

blueboard.com/mantis

 

[surfnvb7]

the mantis is mostly a shade of red, and when I shine a light on him I can see his claws or front appendeges have a lime green tint to them with a large red circle. He looks like he may have alot of color, but since he's so small its hard to see.

my guess is that he's a smasher. I tempted him out with some ghost shrimp today. Are they messy and/or picky eaters? I came back a couple hours later and the ghost shrimp he captured and pulled into his cave earlier was ripped into 2 parts, and was laying outside the entrance to his cave. Hard to tell if it was really eaten much.

This is the best possible pic I can get since its so small.

 

[surfnvb7]

Heres a much better pic. My camera doesn't pic up color very well, but when I was looking at the mantis I could definately see some green shades on his body. Its tough to see b/c he's so transparent looking though, I'm guessing b/c he's so young the color doesnt develop yet.

Call me crazy, but could this very well be what I'm hoping it is??

Note the red spot on his claw.

 

[fras]

I'm no expert but that definately looks like a smasher to me, you can see his club.
No idea what type though.

Congrats on your new baby!

 

[rwhhunt]

definately a smasher, I can see if all the way from atlanta!

 

[surfnvb7]

can anyone ID based on that red spot what possibles it could be? As a note, this guy came in as a hitch hiker in a rock. No idea where the rock came from though.