New Spearer Pictures

[Gandy]

Here are some new pictures of my very social pseudosquilla ciliata. He roams free around the tank during the day and night as long as there aren't five people standing around watching him. Today I put in a molly to see if he'd go for it. I'm sure if I left the molly in longer she would have been toast but I want to see it happen. So I'll have to wait another day. He really likes the ghost shrimp and slaps them around the tank when they get within striking distance. He'll engulf any that he corners. He is very aggresive when he's hungry so I can't let starve or the damsel(rapunsel) is toast. I just added a moonlight on the left side of the tank and Master Shredder loves it.
Happy Shrimping...

 

[rwhhunt]

SWEEEET PICS MAN! The first one looks like he wanted to eat what was in Your hand!
Poor Molly...If its not a freak razor-armed ninja shrimp, its that damn ill-tempered bastard Beta beatin up on her!!!

Has he struck the glass with his spearer?

 

[Gandy]

He hasn't tagged the glass yet. I'm not worried about it though. He quells in comparison to boris the mighty peacock!

 

[fras]

That has to be one of the nicest mantis' I have seen. Congrats!

 

[Gandy]

Thanks I lucked out with liveaquaria and mr hunt's help. I couldn't be happier.

 

[Danyal]

i thought spearers wheren't the kind of mantis you want, if they aren't then i want one of those, i looks soooooooooo very cool

 

[Gandy]

My spearer harpooned a molly last night for it's first fish meal. If anyone has a place i can post the video then i will put a url link up on this site. It is low res mpeg but it is still pretty cool!!!

 

[rwhhunt]

I believe the difference between owning a spearer vs a smasher is just a matter of preference. You are at more risk of cracked glass and dead inverts with a smasher; BUT I would not want a spearer to slice my hand either.... I think that both are equally dangerous to your personal body. The type of prey would then be the other factor: clubbers will destory crabs, shrimp, and crayfish, while spearers will take out small inverts like ghost shrimp and little fishies... In general, i believe the P Ciliata is one of the few spearers commonly found in the trade, however a larger variety of smashers are collected...