My LFS gives pests away fro free

[jaidexl]

Isn't that a great thing? I'm glad these bugs deeestroy things. Here's a little Oerstedii (my first stoma) I saved from kritter keeper confinement and possible destruction. Note that the first two pics are extremely blown up and are warm exposures, it's size is 1.5" and the color is a bit less intense. Here is a short vid.

2.5gl for now, upgrading to 10gl green/softy tank in the future.

Thanks for looking -J

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

they have any more "pests"? ill pay for shippin

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

cool mantis, take lots of pics!

 

[jaidexl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11036985#post11036985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HeyLookItsCaps
they have any more "pests"? ill pay for shippin

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you, this isn't the first one I've seen there. I think most of the rock they find them in is from the keys, so it would most likely be one of the local species.

What's your location?

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

im in socal sadly

 

[jaidexl]

Hmm, shipping would probably be a killer then. You should go to the nearest live rock seller and tell them to call you, they should almost certainly find them as hitchhikers and will probably give one to you. I could see paying $50+ to ship a peacock, but these smaller specimens usually get yanked and stepped on at the LFS.

 

[yiliyang]

Great find. Not only you get a cool critter, you also saved an innocent life. Way to go.

BTW: I got a wannerae from a nice couple that got their rock from TBS. I put it in my 55 gal mixed reef and he has been a model citizen. When I see him pocking his head out, i give him a small piece of table shrimp on a stick and he enjoys that immensely.

Good luck.

 

[dismalorb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11039573#post11039573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaidexl
Hmm, shipping would probably be a killer then. You should go to the nearest live rock seller and tell them to call you, they should almost certainly find them as hitchhikers and will probably give one to you. I could see paying $50+ to ship a peacock, but these smaller specimens usually get yanked and stepped on at the LFS.

*sigh* That's just wrong. Someone should stomp on them and show them how it feels.

If you ship 5-10 small ones in one package it would be worth the $50 for shipping!

If I remember correctly, Dr. Roy usually doesn't ship his in a large amount of water, so the shipping should be much cheaper than $50...

 

[BlakDuc]

Would you step on a gorrilla crab? I would, but not a mantis.

 

[dismalorb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11049106#post11049106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GrandeGixxer
Would you step on a gorrilla crab? I would, but not a mantis.

What's the point when you have a mantis shrimp to EAT the gorilla crab?

Not to mention, if they REALLY want to destroy their mantis shrimp, why waste them by stomping on them? Why not just feed them to a puffer? People are so wasteful! Horrible humans!

I don't murder the animals I purchase from the ocean (not purposefully at least ), but I have no problems making them sacrificial offerings to the Stomatopod gods.

 

[jaidexl]

I still haven't even mustered up the guts to sacrifice a crab yet. Ever since I stabbed my first rock crab, I've felt guilty. I don't know if this little guy is going to be taking out crabs any time soon though, there's been a hermit in their since day one that is still cruising around. It's to the point I find pleasure seeing the crab every day and will feel bad if/once he's gone (local unidentified hermit, looks really cool), but when I put him in my display, he goes straight to killing bluelegs. Hopefully he'll make it until the mantis gets upgraded to 10g.

 

[jaidexl]

Some update shots. The tank now has 2 x 13w pc, 6700k + actinic03. Colors are a lot better.

Here is a longer video w/ some hermit smacking action, still had ugly 2700k bulbs.





.

 

[Pea-brain]

That guy is a beaut! Great find!

Dan

 

[dismalorb]

That's quite the adorable Mantis you've got there! I'm glad you saved the little bugger.

How much has it grown since you rescued it?

 

[jaidexl]

Thanks guys. He/she seems to have brightened up a lot since the first day, almost invisible inside the feather caulerpa.

No noticeable growth yet. It's going to be a bummer breaking everything down for a larger tank now that he has his little highways dug out everywhere, he's done a surprisingly nice job of creating some cool little caves that all point out to the main viewing area. We're moving in a few months (ugh, 6 aquariums ) and I'll be trying to talk my way into the upgrade then, hopefully he'll get bigger with the space increase and ability to feed a lot more.

 

[Swanwillow]

ain't he purty?

I love mantis'