New 6 inch Mantis!

[Ohmsford]

I just brought home a big 6 inch Mantis from the LFS. We are going to keep him in a dedicated 5 gallon tank with 1" of SD sand, and some rocks arranged into a cave for him. So far after day one, he has been shy and stays in the cave or in back of the rocks. I gave it a whole piece of krill and it raced ater it to only grab it and retreat. Due to its size, I am in constant worry that he will break the glass.

Can anyone ID this Mantis from the pics. He is a very dull olive green to brown color and can only offer the photos for details at this time.

This has been a really exciting time for the wife and kids.

Ohmsford

 

[venwu225]

Gonodactylus chiragra

 

[Gonodactylus]

This is a male Gonodactylus chiragra (you can see one of the gonopods in the photo). G. chiragra is a common low-intertidal species found throughout the Indo-Pacific. You might want to check your ruler. The largest G. chiragra ever recorded was just under 4 inches long - measured from the tip of the eyes to the tip of the telson.

Roy

 

[LisaD]

Is a 5 gallon big enough?

 

[Absint Reefer]

if he's 6in I would say get a bigger tank

 

[Gonodactylus]

Assuming that the animal is under 4", a 5 gal is probably large enough. These are very tough animals although big males occasionally develop shell disease.

Roy

 

[Ohmsford]

I am deeply sad to report that this new G. chiragra did not make it past 36 hours. I have no clue as to the cause of death (stress?). Tank parameters were tested previously ay pH=8.3, Alk=8 dKh, Temp=78F, Sg=1.023, Ca=400, Mg=1240. Nitrates are always low as is Ammonia, but were not tested. Lighting was from a NO Flourescent bulb on the 5 gal light strip, and filtration was from an outside overflow cartridge filter with mederate flow. Acclimation was over the course of around 3 hours.

After removing him from the tank, I could see no visible signs for cause of death. I was able to accurately measure this Mantis as being 3 7/8 inches long. You were right Dr Roy... he looked a lot bigger in the tank.

Prior to purchasing, I asked the LFS about its health and eating habits. They reported that they had it for a "while" and it was readily fed shrimp and live mollys once in a while.

Upon introducing him into my 5 gallon, he quickly was exploring the rock cave, for the LFS had him in a bare partition. I fed it a piece of krill to which he readily grabbed and hid with. The following day he also ate some mysis shrimp and was seen a few times exploring/retreating into the rockwork.

Although very upset at this loss, my wife and I are not going to abandon this pursuit. We have learned a lot in this forum and from some online sources that have risen my interest even more. We also did not have the opportunity to witness many of the characteristic behaviors that make these creatures so facinating.

Our only other setback is that finding another Mantis shrimp locally has proven to be futile and I am not aware of any other online sources with reasonable shipping costs. (I really do not want to pay $40 for a Mantis in CA to be shipped to NJ for $55).

I read about TBS stating that they could ship a Mantis for $50 inclucing shipping. This offer is not listed on their site. Has anyone purchase one from them. I might give them a call today, but I would like to hear any feedback before I order from anywhere. I would foremost, be very interested in any suggestions/observations as to what could have happened to this Mantis, and how I could prevent it from happening in the future.


Ohmsford

 

[pisces77]

you can contact them here too (they are one of the sponsers) Most of the other on-line sources only have peacocks, which are too large/strong for your 5g.

 

[LisaD]

is there any way the rock could have been treated with copper or chemicals otherwise have entered the tank?

if I were you, I'd put a "canary in the coal mine" to determine if there is a problem with the tank or if the mantis was a goner before you even put him in. add a few snails/hermits and see how they do. if they are fine, they are either your cleanup crew or dinner for the new mantis.

good luck!

 

[LisaD]

I was able to accurately measure this Mantis as being 3 7/8 inches long. You were right Dr Roy... he looked a lot bigger in the tank.

BTW, overestimation of size is quite a common affliction with men. :lol:

forgive me, I couldn't resist. :smokin:

 

[vapester]

...I had a peacock for over 2 years, did great, had him in a 55 gallon. Even survived a ruff move, well awhile after I moved the house was sprayed for fleas outside, and it was his undoing. I've read they are extremely intolerant to any toxins in any surrounding areas. It seemed to try an emergency molt, then looked weak and confused a couple days, then just kinda keeled over. It sucked cuz I had a bunch of awesome UFC matches with him kicking the s**t out of crabs, and crayfish, but I had to do a factory restore on my PC and lost them all. Anyhow, I had him in a 5 gallon when I first got him and he was like almost 4 inches then, did constant water changes until I relocated him to the 55 gallon after about 1 - 1 1/2 months. I only had a heater and undergravel filter in the 5 gallon. Obviously you shouldn't keep any mantis over 2" in a tank that size. Maybe there was a lack of oxygen too. Actually, a mantis over 4" would be best suited in an acrylic tank due to there striking power.

 

[kjmst29]

BTW, overestimation of size is quite a common affliction with men. :lol:

forgive me, I couldn't resist. :smokin:

:fun1:

...so there.

 

[Uriel]

Obviously you shouldn't keep any mantis over 2" in a tank that size.

I beg to differ a bit here.
My G, platysoma is 3" and in a 6 gallon, and doing just fine.

 

[vapester]

...I thought it was fine too but when you actually put them in a bigger tank and get to watch their unbelievable speed and the graceful way they swim and maneuver it is nice to have a little more room for them. But really, a well fed Mantis isn't gonna do a whole lot of swimming anyhow. I guess what I mean is if you really wanna see a mantis in its full out attack, predatory mode, it would probably need a bigger tank. Otherwise you may never see it's true speed and agility, they can outswim a fish. And it would be tough on water conditions to drop a crab or crawfish in there and let him tear it up i'd think. I'd like to see some others dedicate a larger tank to the guys at least for a short time to see what I mean.