My new Mantis

[LisaP]

I've been an avid reader of this forum for ages now hoping that one day I would have Mantis of my own to look after. Well at the beginning of this month I added a load of Carribean LR to my new tank and what do you know... there were 2 Mantis hitchhikers in it. Cool!

The smaller Mantis went back to my supplier but the larger one is now residing in the new tank sump till I can set up a special tank for it. It presently measures 2.5" long and he/she has already moulted once.

I'd really like to know what species I have here. I think that it's probably Neogonodactylus wennerae, mainly from the origin of the LR and the colour of the meral spots (which are white). What do you think?

 

[Kara]

beautiful mantis! Nice photos too.. they come out great!

 

[gumhead]

very cool!

 

[XxAngelzDustxX]

Nice! Get some full tank shots.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Great photos showing all of the key characters to identify it positively as N. wennerae.

Roy

 

[LisaP]

Thanks so much for the positive I.D.

Just another quick question for you all. How often should I be feeding this Mantis? I'm presently offering food to it once per day which it avidly takes to my family's great delight (feeding my fish/corals never draws such a crowd, lol!). Is this OK?

Regards

Lisa

P.S. I'll get some pictures up of the new tank soon.

 

[Gonodactylus]

We feed our lab animals three times a week and they do fine. In the field, gonodactylids usually hunt two or three times a day, but may go for dayes without eating. From shell midden data, they typically take three or four small hermits and snails a day. I don't have data on crabs and other items that don't leave hard parts behind.

Bottom line, once a day is fine if you don't allow excess food to build up. On the other hand, don't panic if you forget to feed the animal for a week.

Roy

 

[LisaP]

Forget to feed it!!!! You've got to be kidding, it's the high point of my day :lol:

Pollution is not a problem in the tank it's presently in since it's the sole occupant of a 290 gal aquarium. However once it's moved to its own tank I may have to think carefully as to how often I offer food.

With the food I do offer, is it usually consumed straight away or eaten over a longer period? I have no idea what it does with it as the shrimp vanishes straight into its burrow once the food is grabbed.

Regards

Lisa

 

[Gonodactylus]

In contrast to Odontodactylus and some other species, gonodactylids ususally do not cache food. When they are finished, they through it out of the cavity.

Roy

 

[RogueCorps]

Hey Lisa,

Great Pics!

-Rogue