Odontodactylus Havanensis/Latirostris
- Thread starter Joel A
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Joel A
New member
ok, those are the answers i pretty much expected.
I have been searching through stomatopod.com. They did just get a new shipment in, but it has neither havanensis or latirostris. A little while back they did get a few latirostris in though, i was told that anyway.
Not sure which one i would like more... which one would you guys recommend? I hear they are both alike when it comes to care/size/behavior.
I have been searching through stomatopod.com. They did just get a new shipment in, but it has neither havanensis or latirostris. A little while back they did get a few latirostris in though, i was told that anyway.
Not sure which one i would like more... which one would you guys recommend? I hear they are both alike when it comes to care/size/behavior.
only real difference between them that i can discern is that O. latirostris is more rare in he hobby. O. havanensis is more readily available.
They're both one of the "harder" mantids to keep and both are active and interactive aquarium species, so go with whatever pleases you more. I might recommend O. havanensis first just because it will save you the headache of trying to find an O. latirostris (which could take a while).
They're both one of the "harder" mantids to keep and both are active and interactive aquarium species, so go with whatever pleases you more. I might recommend O. havanensis first just because it will save you the headache of trying to find an O. latirostris (which could take a while).
i honestly couldnt tell you how often ken gets them in. As a Canadian, I never really looked into it. Send pea-brain a pm, i think he might know. Nor can i tell you anything certain about their respective lifespans, but yes I had heard the same thing. It's a gamble we take i suppose.
gholland
New member
They had 3 of the O. latirostris at one time... I now have one of those 3. If you get one, make sure you cover the tank and the sump... they can and will jump. I can't speak for the O. havanensis, but I love my O. latirostris. Guess I need to keep a journal so that all my info on her is in one place.
If 3-4 years seems too short, try keeping an octopus. The 6-8 month life expectancy for them will change your perspective.
It's all relative!Edit: Forgot to mention... Ken used to show the O. havanensis for sale on his site, but took them off about 2 months ago... not sure how often he actually updates availability on the site itself, so I would email and ask.
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
If you have a choice, O. havanensis is a bit easier to keep. They are also a bit more interactive. Since most O. havanensis come from FLorida, there availability is more seasonal. You are much more likely to find them offered for sale from May to October.
Roy
Roy
Joel A
New member
Thanks for the advice Dr. Roy.
When i set out to start a mantis tank i just wanted something a little different. I mean... peacocks are great.. but everyone and there brother has one, you know what i mean?
I think honestly at this point i'm so exicted to get one of these guys that i'm probably just gonna jump on whichever one i find first. (Yeah, i know patience is a virtue...)
When you say that Havanensis are a bit easier to keep, is that because they are more tolerant of fluctuating parameters?
When i set out to start a mantis tank i just wanted something a little different. I mean... peacocks are great.. but everyone and there brother has one, you know what i mean?
I think honestly at this point i'm so exicted to get one of these guys that i'm probably just gonna jump on whichever one i find first. (Yeah, i know patience is a virtue...)
When you say that Havanensis are a bit easier to keep, is that because they are more tolerant of fluctuating parameters?
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
"Easier to keep" here is really subjective. I've had a couple of hundred O. h and probably a hundred O. l. Both are generally treated similarly. All I can tell you is that the O.l seem to not last as long. I suspect they are less tolerant of changing water parameters, but that is only a guess.
Roy
Roy
gholland
New member
Joander... can't speak for the O. havanensis, but I just consolidated my experiences with my O. latirostris here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1299679
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1299679
Joel A
New member
awesome thread the gholland.
I think that i kind of favor the latirostris a little still, mainly because of how awesome yours seems. I looked at some of your pictures and videos on youtube, and that mantis is awesome. I think i'm probably going to wait to get another one from the same place you got yours
.
Only thing that concerns me is its a lot of money for a small fragile animal that i don't honestly have any experience in keeping....
I think that i kind of favor the latirostris a little still, mainly because of how awesome yours seems. I looked at some of your pictures and videos on youtube, and that mantis is awesome. I think i'm probably going to wait to get another one from the same place you got yours
.Only thing that concerns me is its a lot of money for a small fragile animal that i don't honestly have any experience in keeping....
Joel A
New member
i think i may have found a source that will have a few O Latirostris very soon. I'm optimistic. =).
I read somewhere (one of Dr. Roys writing i believe) that they do not like lots of Live rock in there habitat, is this true? And how much should i provide?
I'd like to have it make its own burrow, but I dont think it can do it just out of sand can it? Should i be adding shells and Rubble to the tank for it to construct its own burrow?
Thanks.
I read somewhere (one of Dr. Roys writing i believe) that they do not like lots of Live rock in there habitat, is this true? And how much should i provide?
I'd like to have it make its own burrow, but I dont think it can do it just out of sand can it? Should i be adding shells and Rubble to the tank for it to construct its own burrow?
Thanks.
gholland
New member
Yeah, Dr. Roy recommends very little liverock, presumably because that is the habit in which he finds them? I was curious to see whether my O. lat would excavate her own hole or use the naturally occuring tunnels in the liverock... she chose to live in the tunnel in the liverock and spends a large portion of her time climbing over and through it. As long as you don't pack your tank full of rock and you leave plenty of open sandy spaces, I'm thinking it's probably okay.
I think the large spearers secreet mucus to firm up the walls of tunnels they dig in pure sand, but I don't think the O. latirostris can do that... Dr. Roy mentioned that issue with the P. ciliata in a post.
I know Billy at stomatopod.com is still working hard to get more O. latirostris in.
Greg
I think the large spearers secreet mucus to firm up the walls of tunnels they dig in pure sand, but I don't think the O. latirostris can do that... Dr. Roy mentioned that issue with the P. ciliata in a post.
I know Billy at stomatopod.com is still working hard to get more O. latirostris in.
Greg
Joel A
New member
yeah, as far as i know billy has me at #1 on his list for a latirostris from the up and comming phillipeans shipment. He said its a full shipment containing 30-40 stomatopods and that smithii and latirostris were hopefully going to be in the shipment as they were the main 2 asked for from the provider.
With the LR i'm thinking maybe have one pile of it in both back corners of the tank and leave the rest open... i need to grab a little more and see how i like the looks.
With the LR i'm thinking maybe have one pile of it in both back corners of the tank and leave the rest open... i need to grab a little more and see how i like the looks.
gholland
New member
Cool. My arrangement is actually more open than it looks from that one pic. The sea-biscuit shell front and center with the sponges and gorgonians on it make it look more cluttered than it really is too. It's basically two relatively large pieces of liverock (twice the size of my fist?) with lots of holes and tunnels through them -- one piece of rock on each side of the tank -- and then a few smaller pieces forming arches between them.
I'll try to get a video that shows the tank from various angles.
Greg
I'll try to get a video that shows the tank from various angles.
Greg
Joel A
New member
cool greg, shoot me some pics of your set-up or something if you can.
Boy let me tell you though, i'm having a tough time waiting for one of these guys... I think i may set up another small tank too (10 gallons)
I like the smithii, but is this to small for a smithii? If its too small for a smithii then i assume its too small for a ciliata too, which leads me to probably a virdis or a wenarae, but i'm happy either way =).
Boy let me tell you though, i'm having a tough time waiting for one of these guys... I think i may set up another small tank too (10 gallons)
I like the smithii, but is this to small for a smithii? If its too small for a smithii then i assume its too small for a ciliata too, which leads me to probably a virdis or a wenarae, but i'm happy either way =).
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