Multiple Pseudosquilla ciliatas?

[biomekanic]

I'm familiar with the issues of keeping more than one smasher in a tank, but how about spearers?

Do they fight as much? With the increased availability of them, I've thought about having several in a tank, the smallest I'd go would be 29g.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Not a good idea. P. ciliata is quite aggressive. While they do not have a lethal one punch strike, they can kill other stomatopods, particularly when they molt. If you were talking about 8 - 10 square feet of substrate, it might be possible to do it with one male and one female the same size. Even then, there is a good chance the first time one of them molts, it will be there last.

P. ciliata has active and complex courtship with a fairly elaborate "dance". Females are usually willing to mate any time in their reproductive cycle except when carrying eggs and will often take the lead in courtship harrassing the male into mating. The best way to see this is to hold the animals in a divided tank and occasionally lifting the partition to allow them access to one another. Separate them as soon as courtship is over.

Roy

 

[biomekanic]

Thanks for letting me know!

I have a 75g ( 4x2) sitting empty, it'd be easier enough to build a divider and turn it into 2 tanks.

 

[KhawMengLee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12934113#post12934113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gonodactylus
often take the lead in courtship harrassing the male into mating.

Sigh...some species have it good