My mantis. :D

[Islandoftiki]

And finally, for fun, I have two Specs

So, what I want to do is to have three specs side by side, each one with some sort of interesting setup. But I want to have all three run into a main sump with a skimmer, a fuge and such.

A triptych of Specs would look super awesome. Someone did it with freshwater planted Specs and I've been wanting to do it with saltwater.

Of course, when I start adding up the costs to do it...

 

[nmotz]

Island, not a bad goal at all, but yeah it could get really costly. You're just going to have to do it in piecemeal fashion. Buy one and make it nice over a few months or longer, then go to the next one.

I'll probably plan on doing something like that myself someday, only I think I'll only go with two nano tanks and one sump. I can only devote so much time and energy to the hobby and nano tanks are of course more difficult to keep than larger tanks. If I wasn't careful I could easily get couped up in a room for hours on end, just studying their behavior, but I can only give so much before other more important things interrupt me.

 

[lljdma06]

N. curacaoensis is still going strong. He's found a flat rock that he really wants to use in his burrows (he now has three) to close them in at night, and he's been using his little blue battle hammers to smash it to exact proportions. I was concerned about the hammers, but now I'm reassured that they're ok. He molted early in December, so I expected his hammers needed time to recover and since he eats prepared food, he didn't really need them until now. I have video, but I need to edit it first. I'll post it tonight. I'm no Kharn, though, so don't expect much. :lol:

He's eating pellets, carnivore diet, mysis, & brine, but doesn't really seem interested in any live food. The tiny hermits are still in his Spec.

Still doing two, 50-60% water changes a week, same as I do for my Coral Spec. The caulerpa is beginning to fill in, so I'll probably remove the chaeto soon so I can have a more aesthetic tank.

I really enjoy this species. Probably a bit reclusive and timid for some others here, but I like its peaceful nature. Mantis light...

L

 

[lljdma06]

As promised, some photos and videos.

He's a lot more green than he used to be. As Dr. Caldwell said, they do get more green when they live in a predominantly macro tank.

Two videos, one of him posing, and then one of him playing with said rock.





Will not smash for predation though, only for building. But I'm not worried, he eats loads of different foods and he's not picky.

L

 

[StephLionfish]

Sweet mantis and tanks. Love the macros and nps'.

 

[lljdma06]

Sweet mantis and tanks. Love the macros and nps'.

Thanks, tank is doing well, could stand a good clean, not for water quality, but for aesthetics. Caulerpa is overgrown and the rocks are kind of haphazard. He continues to grow and I suspect he's molting again.

L

 

[lljdma06]

Came out of his molt, bigger and really super pretty. Lovely colors. He took mysis shrimp with a lot of enthusiasm, but isn't quite smashing away yet.

I still need to rescape his tank. The rock work is awful.

L

 

[lljdma06]

Finally some pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDLW1EAgMCc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y6euf72iyg&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Thanks for looking.

 

[Kharn]

:O I forgot who had the curacaoensis, it's so unique super lucky to get it and maintain it as I have heard their one of the less forgiving species, I'm full jelly

GREAT looking lil' mantis thanks for the update

 

[lljdma06]

:O I forgot who had the curacaoensis, it's so unique super lucky to get it and maintain it as I have heard their one of the less forgiving species, I'm full jelly

GREAT looking lil' mantis thanks for the update

He's doing ok, tank needs a good clean, which I'll probably get to this weekend. I don't like the rockwork and I want to change it.

He's getting much bigger. Great little guy.

L

 

[PzIV]

Awesome pictures, I'd like to get one, but I'd rather start out with a hardier spp for my first mantis.

 

[StephLionfish]

Sweet, love the blue smashers

 

[lljdma06]

Sweet, love the blue smashers

He prefers the term "blue battle hammers" when referring to his smashers. He's sensitive about that sort of thing.

L