My new Mantis

[Hobart007]

Here's my newest mantis! I'm not sure but I think he's a N. wenn..? I have another mantis in a smaller tank and am about 99% sure he's a N. wenn. as well (red and in FL LR).. This guy was living in a tank at an online retailer that happens to be about 10 minutes from my office for about 4 months. The owner said that he tripled in size in that time!? I picked him up for about 5 bucks and he seems ok.. this pic was taken in the 20 or so seconds before he discovered the LR and so it might be a while before I get another glimpse of him.. These guys are so cool.. I wish I'd discovered them sooner!

Sorry about the bad MS paint crop job..

 

[ReneX]

That looks a little like a ciliata but I could be wrong...

 

[Hobart007]

How could I tell?

 

[Hobart007]

Ok.. I looked up some stuff on a ciliata and they're spearers aren't they? I'm pretty sure this guy's a smasher... so I have a 'G. mysterious'... cool..

 

[Gonodactylus]

This is definitely a smasher and probably a Neogonodactylus from the Caribbean.

The photo doesn't give me much to go on, but I'm pretty sure that this is a female Neogonodactylus oerstedii. If I'm right, the meral spots should be a greyish purple.

Roy

 

[Hobart007]

Cool.. if he comes out I will get some more pics for you to go off of. Meral spots.. are they the ones on the inside of the striking appendages when he spreads them or the 'flaps' with the 'fringes' on the side of his head? And if it is a Neo. oerstedii then what are their characteristics? Anything cool or run-of-the-mill hitchhiker smasher?

I do know that it was collected with some live sand and macroalgae from the Keys when it was very small. -- The guy didn't know he had it and then saw it one day digging a hole near some rubble he had had in there for years. Do they live in rock? I would assume so since its a smasher and he's pretty much stayed in the rock provided. ( I went out and picked up some rock after I read your post on N.wenn. found in the field in holes in rubble at sand level - I created the same conditions exactly in 2 tanks for both of my small smashers from the Carribean.) Anyway, how big will he get.. I want to make sure he'll be ok with the home I got for him and all. Thanks Dr. Roy!

Jim

 

[Gonodactylus]

Meral spots are on the inside of the smashing appendages.

N. oerstedii is common in the Keys, lives in rubble in the low intertidal down to about 5 m, and reaches a maximum size of 7 cm (3 inches). Maximum life span is around 5 to 6 years. They recruit from the plankton as postlarvae at around 8 mm and move into small holes and cracks in coral rubble so it would be easy to pick one up.

This is a fairly color polymorphic species that matches background. The green female that you have is typical of one found where there is lots of grass or algae.

Roy

 

[Hobart007]

Cool, thanks for the info! I'll be sure to give her a good home!

Jim