New mantis! Wanted to say hi and start a thread.

[brahm]

I just picked up a mantis today it came in as a hitchhiker on some corals while they were unpacking at a lfs today, and it was given to me for FREE!!! I have no pictures yet, I have it in a holding cup floating in my frag tank right now until I can setup a tank for it tommorow.. Try to get some pictures so hopefully i can get in id, but from what i say (it's hiding in a shell) it's all black with black eyes. It's very small maybe an 1" max, I was wondering if I 4 Gallon cube would be big enough for it? I have a heater, and i was thinking an air stone, I'll just be adding some sand and some live rock, and a little algie as well. Does this sound good? I won't be adding a light as it will be right next to my other tank and should get plenty of over laping light for that and the near by window.

 

[Gonodactylus]

At 1 inch and black, my guess is that you have a species of Haptosquilla if the LR is from the Indo-Pacific. These are very slow growing, small speices, so tank size is not a problem. The largest tanks we use for them are 1 gal.

Roy

 

[majestic sea life]

thats fine for now if its a N.ween that well hold it for life but if its not u may want a reg 10gal aga but thats my 2 cents

 

[brahm]

It is from Indonesia that is were the coarls were shipped from.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Indonesia has greater stomatopod diversity than anywhere else on earth and there are several small, black species that it could be. Without seeing the tail, it is hard to guess, but I'm still sticking with a Haptosquilla species.

Roy

 

[brahm]

Thanks, I really aprrecaite the quick responses. It's still hiding in a shell so I havne't been able to take a picture yet but once it stops beeing shy I will be sure to post it.. I can't wait to find out if it's a smasher or a slasher.

 

[Gonodactylus]

I can think of only one spearer that can be black. It almost certainly is a smasher.

Roy

 

[brahm]

Actually, Seems like i went home with the wrong shrimp... I fed it just now and was trying to get some pictures but It couldn't get the camera set before it was already hiding again, it isn't black more of a greenish, grey

 

[brahm]

Well it came out of it's hole long enough to check it out this evening.. no photo yet, it's a dark green/purple, and it's a smasher.

 

[thesus13]

Have you moved the mantis into it's main tank yet? If not, you may want to really make sure the top of his container is sealed... mine managed to escape out of two tiny holes at the very top of the breeder. It was okay because he escaped into the main tank I'd setup for him, but now trying to find the little dude is like a big "Where's Waldo?"

**Note: My mantis shrimp does not wear the red/white striped hat like Waldo.

 

[brahm]

not yet, it's floating in a holding cup in (has tons of holes drilled into it), and i have a rock sitting on the lid. It's in my prop tank now so even if it did escape it wouldn't hurt nothin but snails.

 

[O'Coralman]

escape?

escape?

Enjoy your mantis....you will want more. Escape.....hmmmm Do they really try to leave the water? Up to this point, and he has an escape, mine has not left his tuff box(no glass for mine)....just in case:eek1: as he has beat up an acrylic crystal light my son HAD to put in with him. He seems to realize.....no water, no breath ......Steve:dance:

 

[brahm]

damn, haha I ended up giving away the above mantis. I didn't feel like setting up another tank.. Low and behold less then a week later, 2 fish go missing in my display.. and what do I find.. ANOTHER MANTIS!!!!!

This one is Orange/Clear any ideas on what it is? It was to quick when I tried to feed it and I couldn't get a good look, but it's living in these tunnels inside a piece of live rock, i'm guessing it's a smasher and it made these tunnels but I could be wrong. As soon as I can get my clams to detach from this rock i'm going to remove it and hopefully get a picture of the little bugger.. This sure does explain alot..