My new spearer. L. maculata!

[Timmy]

Hello,
here is my new Mantis Shrimp.
A Lysiosquillina maculata male.
The animal is still in our store because i don't have completed my special mantis tank.

Here some pics!

 

[Gandy]

It's a bumble bee! My spearer was awesome. I named him shredder and he did not let me down. I have a low res video of him snatching a molly from this world to the next. How big is he?
Good Luck

 

[SLKs reef]

Nice mantis Timmy!

 

[Timmy]

He is 12 cm from the eyes to the telson end.

 

[rwhhunt]

I AM SO JEALOUS!!!! How deep of a sand bed and specialzed home are you making?

 

[Timmy]

The tank is not ready yet. I post a plan of my special mantis tank later. The tank will not have a deep sand bed, because there are many dead zones in the sand bed and i think the system is not stable for a long time. I'm sure it`s a ticking timebomb.
I build a natural burrow with a PVC pipe in a tank, but i have still one question before i start.
Witch tube is recommned for L. maculata? 50 mm or 63 mm or bigger?
I hope Dr. Roy can answer my question.

 

[HookedOnReefing]

:thumbsup: Wow, what beauty!

 

[Gonodactylus]

If this animal is only 12 cm, it is still a juvenile and would have a burrow about 4 cm in diameter. I would go with 5 cm ID pvc. However, a natural burrow would be better. The sand bed would only have to be about 15 cm and as the animal grows you can slowly add more sand on top. I've done this many times. Alternatively, insert a glass or plastic panel along one side of a 50 - 80 L tank leaving a 10 cm wide compartment. Fill this will about 15-20 cm of sand and put rock in the rest of the tank. Fill the tank with seawater a bit above the panel. Alternatively, drill some 1 cm holes in the top 5 cm of the panel and fill to just below the top edge of the panel. This will hold the animal in the sand compartment until it can dig its burrow. If in the process of digging the burrow the animal exposes the burrow along the side, put some black tape and/or plastic on the outside wall to block the light. This will make it easy to occasionally check on the animal when it molts, etc.

We has several Lysiosquillina from 5 to 35 cm living in these types of aquaria and they do very well. L. m are tough and can handle less than perfect water, so don't worry too much about this as long as you start with really clean coral sand.

Roy

 

[Timmy]

Thank you for the good tips Dr. Roy.

I think i take a 60 L tank and fill it with 18 cm fine coral sand, but your idea with the glass or plastic panel along one side is very good. so i have place in the tank for another Mantis Shrimp like P. ciliata.
Good.

Timmy

 

[Timmy]

Here is my special Mantis tank for Lysiosquillina maculata.
Very easy to build.

 

[SLKs reef]

Looks good, keep us posted about him.

 

[Absint Reefer]

Just curious how much was he?

 

[Timmy]

Only 10 Euro for me, because i work in a store.