Ordering Odontodactylus havanensis

[Vitaly]

After doing a reasonable amount of reading about mantis behavior, care, husbandry, etc...I have decided that I would like to own one.

There is a reputable online vendor, whom I have ordered from previously, that is selling Odontodactylus havanensis on his site.

Are there any specific issues that I could encounter with this species?

Additionally, I have seen and read that many mantis will eat prepared/dead food in captivity. Do they tend to accept it immediately...or do they need to be weened onto it? Should I be prepared to provide live food initially?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pea-brain]

O. havenensis is a great, active mantis. At a cost. They are very sensitive to water parameters, especially oxygen. Dr. Roy once reported killing one by stirring the sand. Also they have a short life span. Like 2-3 years i think. You should give this mantis a nice sand bed, lots of rubble, shells, etc. Most mantises wwill take frozen food immediately, and if they don't you can starve them until they do. they can go a month or 2 without eating, so if it won't eat frozens don't offer live food until it either eats, or it doesn't eat for 3 weeks. Any longer than that should be avoided. Give a varied diet with live, hard shelled food at least once a month, preferably more, and soak frozen food in selcon once a week. Feed every 2-3 days, and have at least 2-3 frozen foods.

Dan

 

[justinl]

i havent heard of a mantis who didnt take to frozens quickly. but +1 about O havs being sensitive... these guys are the princesses of stomatopods... be careful about them.

i believe that most people get their O havs from a guy named ken from sealife.

 

[Vitaly]

Pea-brain and justinl thanks for the advice and feedback.

The tank that is going to house the mantis will receive circulation directly from my 65g reef tank. I am planning to place the tank on an adjacent counter/stand and use a small pump to push water from my sump into the the mantis tank...and then drain back into the sump. I feel that this will help to keep everything very stable.

And you nailed it justinl...Sealife is the site that I was looking at. I have ordered from Ken before and have been very happy with the way he does business.

Thanks again guys!

 

[Pea-brain]

Kens a good guy. Got my jawfish from him. But I would specify that I only want 1 O. havenensis if you don't have a place to house another. IME he tends to send extras lol. (That why I have a pair of jawfish in a 10 gallon)

Dan