Pictures of my new G. Platysoma and G. Ternatensis...

Yep, she is big, very outgoing and eats heartily. The Platysoma is a bit more peckish, ytaking some silversides, but throwing frozen/thawed shrimp back at me. he also took a half-hearted whack at a snail, but for the most part he looks happy to just curk up in his new digs and relax.

There are more pics in my Gallery now.

-Ron
 
are these good or bad for display? my sw reef has been up for just over 6 months now w/LR. today is the first time I saw what appears to be just like the one in the first pic. I've stared at this rock for many many hours and am just seeing this ?? for the first time.
 
Well, edtech, do you have any other mobile inverts in there (shrimp,crabs,lobster), or any snails? All of these are the normal food items of a Mantis Shrimp.
As well, they may kill fish, though a fish is not a Smasher mantis (about
95% of those encountered for aquarists).
They leave corals pretty much be, although the do construct and aquascape themselves quite a bit, so they may disturb all of your careful work.

That being said, a lot of folks thin that these creatures are the Scourge of the Reef, murdering everything in a tank. I know that I would be very upset if a Mantis ate all of my $$$ fish. I would,however, eagerly set up yet another (I have 3 now) Mantis tank for the beast.


-Ron
 
Thanks Ron. I do have hermits (may explain their untimely departures), some other tarantula looking crabs (hitchhikers), snails, oh and fire shrimp. My fish seem unmolested however (tomatoe, purple tang). I'm now worried that if there's one there's more??? It was in same cavern as the small tarantul looking crab this morning. BTW my mantis?? has green legs, somewhat translucient purpleish body with white spots and eyes that are long--good for peep round the rock from which it was hiding. Sound like the same beast? Thanks.
 
Well, most of what you have in there is De-licious! to a Mantis...
Personally, I would try and remove him, given the chance.
It sounds like you have a pretty peaceful community other than the mantis' potential for munching everyone. If you don't mind losing any of those other critters too much , you could leave him in there. they are fascinating creatures to watch construct and (yes, iIm saying it) play and otherwise have fun.


As far as having more than one, they are pretty territorial, so you might have heard some fighting if that is the case, though I am no expert on the subject.

My new G. Ternatensis lounges around and does 'flips' in the water, and she likes to lie on her back, curled while she is eating snails, watching me.
I am beginning to wonder just who is running the show and who is the entertainment. She does seem to like the LotRings soundtracks, as I have them on full rotation in y bedroom (where the mantis tanks are.

That being said, if you don't want it, and do manage to catch it...
FIRST DIBS!


:D

-Ron
 
Not to hijack, but it seems these critters are in demand. Ron, somebody already pm'd for first dibs. You're 2nd however. What do people do with them? I do hear pop/click noise now I'm paying attention for it. Thanks for the most helpful pics.
 
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