My Mantis Pictures!

[SaCe]

I took some pretty good shots of my Mantis over the weekend that I thought I'd share. I discovered him in my main display tank last summer and he's been living in his own 18 gal tank ever since. Since then I had discovered two Oyster Driller Snails and added them to the tank as well. The Mantis has knocked them around a bit, but almost more as a warning than a desire to eat them. I feed my Mantis well.

Over the weekend I bought two Blue Damsels to add to the tank. I'm hoping they survive, but I'm not too sure. My Mantis has become much more active since I added them and may not be able to resist the opportunity to take a whack at them. I'll have to let you know how it goes.

Anyway, here are the pictures.

Peeking out,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/SaCeCat/Assortedpictures172.jpg

A little further,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/SaCeCat/Assortedpictures174.jpg

And here, he was starting to get annoyed at the flash from the camera. I actually wondered if he was about to say enough, and take a lunge! :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/SaCeCat/Assortedpictures177.jpg

This is a picture of the tank with it's new fish too...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/SaCeCat/Assortedpictures160.jpg

 

[Absint Reefer]

watch those damsels they my become lunch

 

[Gonodactylus]

In case you didn't know, the species is Gonodactylus smithii.

Roy

 

[SaCe]

I wasn't sure about the species, so thank you Ron!

I had been missing the snails lately, one had been moving close to the Mantis Den and I saw it in the entrance the other day. It was still alive. I have not seen it since.

Also, I happend to notice the other snail had actually crawled out of the tank and ended up out of the tank on the table. I'm sure it was dead, but I dumped it back in anyway. Well, later in the day the Mantis was manipulating the shell and took it in his den. The next thing I new the empty shell was thrown out! :lol

So I can say the snails have finally became lunch for the Mantis.

So far the Damsels are doing swimmingly! Honestly, I think it's probably a matter of time though...