My peacock mantis pics

[diabolus_sg]

hi all,

just brought the mantis home 2 days ago.

here is some pics of it.

 

[EMG]

GREAT PICTURES !!!!!!!!!

 

[Gonodactylus]

I don't like what I see in the bottom left picture. There is a rusty brown spot that could be shell disease. Is there a hole in the carapace?

Roy

 

[diabolus_sg]

hi Roy,

dun think there was any hole in the carapace,

i think it might be the work of my lousy digi cam.

but i will monitor it for the next few days.

can you tell me more abt the symtoms that i can look out for?

thanks for the info.

 

[Gonodactylus]

I wasn't trying to alarm you, but large O. scyllarus, particularly males, are prone to shell disease. It usually starts out as a rusty colored spot or series of sports that turn dark and occasionally eat through the culticle. Untreated, they weaken the animal and can cause death, usually when it tries to molt. Just be on the look-out for discoloration - particularly around old wounds.

Roy

 

[diabolus_sg]

Roy,

if it does have the shell disease, how do i go about the treatment?

so far, i have not notice any old wounds or discolourations yet. but will certainly take note.

thanks for the invaluable advices!



ps: is there a tell tale sign to differentiate between a male and a female?

 

[CPT. MURPHY]

nice pics very colorful hope he is okay!

 

[Gonodactylus]

To my knowledge, no one has come up with an effective treatment other than high quality water, uv sterilization and a dark burrow. There is some evidence that the pathogen(s) are contagious, so I would avoid placing a healthy stomatopod in the same water system as an infected one. Again, if you don't see a rust-colored spot on the carapace (which I though I saw in one photo), don't worry. The disease is very slow developing. It was probably just a reflection.

The only sure way to sex O.s. is by the genetalia. The male has a pair of peneis hanging down off the inslde of the last pair of walking legs. In large animals, males are often more green while females are olive, but that is not absolute.

Roy

 

[nubreefer]

I don't think it is a reflection. If you look at the larger pic, you can just barely see an orangish blemish where it appears on the other picture. In addition you can see the spot quite clearly in the middle right pic. It does look as though it has eaten though a good chunk as well, but i'm feeling terribly pessimistic today.