My Ultimate Multi Mantis System(s)

[Kharn]

When Stomatopods Attack...

This morning I was looking into my tanks and various compartments to check and say good morning to my crew members, upon stopping to check in Rockys compartment I noticed that one of the Gorgs had been knocked down, so whilst still half asleep...I reached in and straightened it....

WHACK!!!!!

Rocky (G.graphurus) was waiting for me and shot out from under the DIY PVC burrow plateau that is just above the substrate level, he came out at lightning speed and struck my hand like I have never felt before...

He also left something I have not yet felt before...you can see the distinct curve shape of his hammer, this must of been a blow thrown with full force as he has never broke my skin before and I have been struck by him a few times, but none like this...



More to come!

 

[Islandoftiki]

Wow, thanks for sharing. Now I can direct people to this picture when they argue with me that a mantis shrimp will remove your whole hand with one hit.

 

[TundraGuy]

Islandoftiki that's nothing you need to search Kharn's pix to find the finger shots. Lol reasons why I don't mess with my pets *rolls eyes*

 

[Calappidae]

Ouch...








Still hand feeding

What did it feel like in comparsion to something else?

 

[Kharn]

Ouch...
Still hand feeding
What did it feel like in comparsion to something else?

I've never been struck before to the point of bleeding.

The initial reaction was the same as that of when my finger was assaulted by Maximus a year or 2 ago....

Basically I made it worse by doing the most natural reaction...I ripped my arm out of the tank as the strike shocked me like some sort of electricity surge, in the process my arm raked along the top of the tanks rim and shaved some skin off...again.

When I got struck the only thing I felt was 'shock' that sudden rush of adrenaline from something you didn't see coming, after about 5seconds the heart slows down and pain can be felt, this pain felt like being touched by someone who has heated up the end of a lighter where the steal guard is and briefly pressed the hot steal against your skin.

For about 30seconds it lasts then subsides to nothing, the saltwater did add some sting to it since it did break the skin but in the end it was all a more 'shock' thing being caught off guard then any real 'pain'...

I was struck below the thumb where it is soft and fleshy.

 

[Kharn]

Bit of an update on the Cleaner Fish...

Well the Filefish which may of been the best candidate for the Aptasia...is gone, I never saw it eat any Aptasia and I think Adam the G.smithii had enough of sharing his compartment with it and so, killed it, the consumed it.

However...There has been some success! :jester:

The Klein's Butterfly Fish must be consuming some of the Aptasia as noticeable in the 2 pictures below from Before adding fish and After adding the fish.

BEFORE adding Klein's


AFTER adding Klein's


The images speak for themselves... :lol:

EDIT: I knew the Filefish wouldn't last...such a slow and fragile fish is nothing but an easy meal to a 'loose' Stomatopod (remember I tried to keep them contained...). However the Klein's is FAR larger, much faster and more powerful so I think it can kind of stick up for itself / put the fear into the small Stomatopods enough for there to be some form of seedy mutual respect...

Either way the Klein's Fish is the Bomb-diggidy for assassinating those pesky Aptasia if your lazy like me

 

[Kharn]

The warning has been given...
Your fate is now your own...

 

[Adetia]

I swear I remember another thread on here where a mantis ate their shrooms too. I think they even had a picture where they caught it in the act.

Edit: That was easier to find than I thought it would be: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1954101

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Mine deff took both into her burrow and there are no remains of any Yuma in there now...

 

[Islandoftiki]

Wow, it's a good thing my G. Ternatensis doesn't eat mushrooms since that's the predominant coral in his tank.

 

[Kharn]

It's the rock or object that the coral sits upon, that usually gains their interest... Stomatopods do not eat coral.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

FYI mine were free floating polyps ie. Not attached to anything. I simply set then on the rock structure and she murdered/possibly consumed them...

 

[Kharn]

I guess you have just endured a freak event...

I know if my ultra grade Ric's were in danger I'd dive rite in to save them

Specially when something only 1 inch in diameter but be bright orange can cost over $300...

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Like I said they were 5 bucks and had they been any more than that I would have saved them... Will try again this time after I acclimate the coral I will add them a bit after lights out and maybe she won't notice ?

 

[Kharn]

Like I said they were 5 bucks and had they been any more than that I would have saved them... Will try again this time after I acclimate the coral I will add them a bit after lights out and maybe she won't notice ?

At $5 a pop I would just keep trying, maybe bulk add like 10 at once xD

Damn you and your cheap as rubbish Ric's xD

 

[H.reidi.MN]

<3 don't hate m8

 

[Calappidae]

*cough* I got 30 rics for free :celeb3:

 

[Islandoftiki]

Sheesh, I paid $20.00 each for some of my tri-colored floridas.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I'm going to try more this week prob. Not bummed about price but they were stunning, especially the neon green

 

[Kharn]

There is a nice Orange Ric Yuma at my LFS that I saw yesterday for $300 which I am going to try and snap up tomorrow if it isn't already gone...