new mantis keeper.

[bill999]

Hi guys just new to the forums.I purchased a seven inch L.Maculata and he is pretty cool.The shop had no idea of what he was so I looked him up on the net and found out.Was not sure how big he was gonna get and found out its bloody big.Just wondering how long they live for and how fast they grow? Only have him in a ten gallon at the moment with a built in trickle filter.A good system and it has a bit of live rock also but will need to be upgraded in time I know.

 

[Argent]

Common name: Zebra Mantis Shrimp, Striped Mantis Shrimp

Functional type: Spearer

Range: Indo-Pacific from Hawaii and Galapagos to East Africa

Habitat: Mud, sand and sandy reef flats

Depth: Low intertidal to 10 m

Home: Large, u-shaped burrow reinforced with mucus to bind sand

Diet: Fish, occasional shrimp and crab

Size: 1.5â€"œ40 cm (this is the largest of all stomatopods)

Color: Transverse stripes ranging from cream and tan to tan and very dark brown; meral spot pale tan to white; sexually mature females often with pink ovaries visible as a pink stripe running the length of the thorax and abdomen

Distinguishing Characters: Bilobed eyes covered with white spots; antennal scale with dark patch in center; raptorial dactyl with 10â€"œ11 teeth; sexually dimorphic, males with larger eyes and raptorial appendages

Activity: Almost never leaves burrow; hunts day and night; lives in monogamous pairs, male does most of the hunting

Aquarium Requirements:
Temperature: 22â€"œ28° C

Salinity: 33â€"œ36 PSU

Cohabitants: Will eat fish

Aquarium size (adult): 20 cm adult, 120 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand bed at least 1.5 times as deep as the animal is long

Suitability for Aquarium: Highly specialized requirements; small animals will excavate burrow in deep sand beds and grow rapidly; hardy

Availability: Occasionally available from commercial suppliers; almost always only males are caught and sold. It is possible to establish pairs, but females are very difficult to catch; commonly eaten

Courtesy of Dr. Roy

and according to that 120l tank is needed for adults which is like 32 gallons so you should look at upgrading considering if he's already 7" he's going to get almost 16"

 

[30mini]

You might want to look into investing in a 55 or 40 gal tank and a lot of sand!! Roy has stated that he puts in a divider into the middle of his 55 going lengthwise, then fills up one side with sand for the Maculata to burrow into, then uses the other side for added water and possible filtration! He can describe it better, and I think it would be the best way to keep one of these guys especailly how big this one already is, and has the potential of getting!

 

[Gonodactylus]

Large adults are probably 20 years old or more. A 7 inch animal will not grow that fast if you feed it in moderation.

Roy

 

[bill999]

Thankyou guys.I appreciate the help.Trust me to pick the largest of the mantis to start with.It is so awesome I love him and want him to be happy.He eats well.I am offering him whole frozen fish and whole prawn.It also doesnt mind brine shrimp either. Looks like I have some work to do hey. I it once a day,That cool?. What sort of mantis do you guys keep? What do you think are better smashers or spearers? Thanks again.:rollface:

 

[30mini]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7949221#post7949221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bill999
What do you think are better smashers or spearers?

That's a matter of opinion. I like smashers, but I also like spearers. I personally have an O. Scyllarus, which is a smasher, but my friend that got me the O.S has a L. Maculata, and I love watching that too!! Most people keep smashers, b/c they are more common hitchikers and can be found easier than spearers.

 

[Dave Legacy]

I'm into the spearers, more specifically the Lysios. Congrats on the new mantis, they're fun... just reclusive as all hell.

 

[bill999]

yeah, he does like to hide a bit but lately he has been out a bit more.Has not been eating the last two days though not sure what is up. He seems to be happy though. I have to do bi weekly wc though cause he is a messy *****. very cool though.

 

[Uriel]

If he is not eating, he (she?) might be about to molt.

As far as smashers vs. spearers for my favorite, I would have to say that my P cilata (spearers) are very active, since they hunt on the move, as oppossed to almost all other spearers. My favorite mantis have all been smashers, my G platysoma (Glaurung), as well as the two that just died in the last month or so, my first O scyllarus (Peacock, named Dagon), and my absolute fave, my G ternatensis,Baba-Yaga, who I found dead yesterday morming, in a partial molt.

-Ron

 

[bill999]

Thats bad news man,sorry to hear it. How long had you had them for? I really like this place.Great info that i am getting. I got it to eat last night had some prawn. I want to try live food not sure what though. What would you recomend or would you advise no live food?

 

[30mini]

Damsels always work well!! You can also try some shrimp of any kind! Live food is always good! It keeps them in shape, and it's what they get in the wild anyways

 

[Docbones]

The only downside ive found from feeding live food is the moans and groans you get when people find out you buying fish and crabs to use for food. They dont seem to realize that is what they eat in the wild ,

 

[30mini]

That's exactly what I tell them! I work at an LFS, and I always bring home snails for walter, and they always moan to me about it... but I always say, "He has to eat too!"

 

[bill999]

Thats true. I get that with my oscars sometimes. I am going to try some damsels for it I can get them really cheap. It is eating again now and doing really well but it is a bit of a psycho though getting very curious and will now come to the front of the tank when I walk over.Probably wants to eat or see what I am up to.