Need ID

[MadAboutCichlids]

Just started my first ever saltwater setup the beginning of this week. Currently have two Domino Damsels to help cycle the waters, tank will eventually house a mantis shrimp. So far I have been able to find three different kinds, one is a tiger mantis shrimp, other is Peacock, but the last one I'm not sure what it is. It's about 2 1/2-3" long and it's dark maroon, almost like red wine color. Just wondering what might the last one be.


Thanks

 

[DanInSD]

Few things here:

1) One mantis per tank. Let's put it this way -- even if that's not where you start, that's where you'll end up.

2) "Tiger mantis shrimp"? Not familiar. Maybe you mean a "tiger pistol shrimp"? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1148
Note that these are not compatible with most mantis shrimp!

3) There are several mantis that are that maroon color but by far the most common in my experience in that size range is Neogonodactylus wennerae.

How big is the tank?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Lysiosquillids are often sold as Tiger Mantids because of the transverse brown and yellow banding.

I can't think of any stomatopods that are commonly maroon with the possible exception of Gonodactylus smithii collected at depth. I guess we will have to wait for the picture.

Roy

 

[MadAboutCichlids]

thanks for responses

It's not a pistol shrimp for sure, guess it's not called tiger but zebra since it looks very similar to the pic below except in lighter shades. BTW it was around 4-5"

I'll try to get some pics of the un ID maroon/purplish looking one this weekend. I also forgot to state that it's pretty much almost the same solid color throughout.


Tank is a 10g for now but am trying to find something acrylic around 20g.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Most Lysiosquillina and Lysiosquilla are a lighter banding pattern than this juvenile. If it has eyes with light spots it is probably Lysiosquillina maculata, the most common Indo-Pacific species.

Roy

 

[DanInSD]

You do realize that this species (L. maculata) has very difficult needs -- like a very deep sand bed (up to, what, 16 inches?). The thing gets huge. See this (from Dr. Roy's lab?): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7iUmdUhGU8

 

[MadAboutCichlids]

The store wanted $150 for the shrimp like above, so it's definately out of my range on what I'm willing to spend. As for the peacock they wanted $ 60 and the unidentified one is for $40:eek1:


BTW thanks for link, I'll view it once I'm off work.

 

[Uriel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9142965#post9142965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gonodactylus


I can't think of any stomatopods that are commonly maroon with the possible exception of Gonodactylus smithii collected at depth...

Roy

My Smithii has the maroon/burgandy coloration.


-Uriel

 

[Gonodactylus]

The prices being asked by aquarium stores these days are outrageous and do not typically reflect what they are being charged my the importers. This is no way I would pay $150 for a small Lysiosquillid. Part of it is supply and demand and retailers will charge whatever the market will allow.

A lysiosquillid this size could live in a tank with an 8 inch sand bed and they are very slow growing so you don't have to move them to bigger quarters very often. I just had a commercial hang on the side refugium tank break (what do you expect when you use 1/8" plexiglass filled with 25 pounds of sand and water) and I was able to dig out and save the L. maculata that I had living in it. I put the animal in it over a year ago as a 50 mm juvenile and it had grown to only 78 mm. Given that lysiosquilids don't go anywhere, you can get away with a short, tall tank. We have several animals in 10-30 gal tanks that have beein in them for two or three years with no need to move them yet.

Roy

 

[justinl]

150$?! no kidding... man that's high for a mantis. the price for the peacock isn't outrageous relative to usual prices, but is definitely on the high side. If the maroon one is indeed a smithii, I would ge with it as a first timer. less prone to a certain disease that peacocks are more susceptible to, they stay smallish, and are super interactive. Just make sure you're supplying them with a proper tank with the proper furnishings for that type of mantis.