Positive ID? Video and pictures of what I believe is a Odontodactylus scyllarus

[Recty]

Can someone positively ID the below mantis as a Odontodactylus scyllarus?

I was originally told this was a 3" mantis, but when viewing it today at the store it is 2" at most. I did see it come out of it's burrow for about half a second and spin around, it's back of it's body was quite dark green. I didnt get a good look at the tail "feathers" (sorry, I'm new to mantis terminology so I dont know what the tail is referred to as ) but the little I saw did not make me think of a peacock. But again, it's a small one and I'm not sure when they take on their adult colors.

Two pictures and a combined video I took with my iPhone... I'm actually surprised how good the video quality came out, I never use my phone for video but I was able to brace against the tank which helped.

In the pictures, I stuck my finger on the glass and it came out in what looked to me like what I would call a threat display.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xfyfsOZnepc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[gpx1200]

G.smithii for shure
also known as ther purple spot mantis for obvious reasons

 

[Akinaura]

I agree with gpx1200. Easiest way to spot this species is the brilliant purple spots on the raptorial appendages.

Dr. Roy Caldwell has a great site where he has listed the more common species of mantis shrimp, habitat and care for the individual species, and most importantly, has listed some key identifying features that the species have. It's called "Roy's List Of Stomatopods for the Aquarium".

 

[Kharn]

MANY MANY MANY local fish shops will label a mantis shrimp "Peacock" because of a few things.

1/ Its the most commonly spoken of.
2/ Its the most colorful which is why people seek it.

So I expect ANY green/red/blue or any colored mantis too be labelled "peacock" until I saw it with my own eyes, EVERY mantis that has ever been for sale at my LFS has been labelled "Peacock" yet NONE have actually been Peacocks.

EDIT: Looks bigger then 1.5" perhaps between 2-3inchs so they were prolly accurate my G.smithii male ADAM is 30mm last time I measured him and he looks MUCH smaller then the one in the pic you posted they get to about 3-3.5inch in size max.

 

[Dana42078]

+1smithii

 

[Kharn]

+1smithii

110%!! Positiveeeeeeeeee

 

[Recty]

Thanks for the help. I looked at Roy's identification list up top that is stickied, that definitely helped.

The nice thing is this mantis stays smaller than a peacock, which is good for the 10g aquarium I have as a home for it if I purchase it. Also, Roy lists it as his favorite one for the aquarium, it looks like because it is interactive? If so, that is cool. This one certainly knew I was there and was coming out and being threatening towards me.

 

[Recty]

So... is a G. smithii as prone to shell rot as a peacock mantis?

I only ask because I'd like to have a small reef type tank but wasnt going to risk it with a peacock due to the shell rot I've read about.

 

[gpx1200]

no their not, they do well with corals but keep in mind anything small enuf for them to move could wind up as part of their home or just decorations for the inside or just plain buried in the sand

 

[Kharn]

So... is a G. smithii as prone to shell rot as a peacock mantis?

I only ask because I'd like to have a small reef type tank but wasnt going to risk it with a peacock due to the shell rot I've read about.

Ok.

The G.smithii is one of if not the most hardy (survival) of ALL stomatopods, it is found in the tidal zone of the water body what I mean by this is that G.smithii are frequently exposed to Air / oxygen (low tide) and high concentration of Light (again low tide) also there resiliant to fresh water (rain).

Very very very low risk of shell rot if its even possible in the species (which I doubt it is and if it is DAMN those lights must be bright!)

It is the BEST mantis for beginners or anyone that wants a mantis in a reef tank.

Lots of researchers base there research off the G.smithii because it keeps so well in aquariums.

The G.smithii species is EVERYTHING that the "stomatopods" stands for!

 

[Akinaura]

From what I understand, Dr. Caldwell loves these guys for the amount of interaction you get with them, but also they are forgiving to a lot of water issues that would outright kill other species of stomatopods.

Just remember what gpx1200 said about the corals, and that the reminder of not sticking anything in the tank that leave you out some major cash and either a VERY expensive meal or burrow decoration for the mantis.

 

[Kharn]

I never had a problem with my G.smithii attacking or boring into coral they always went for the Live Rock or just excavated sand out from under neath a piece of Live Rock my biggest concerns was that some of my more harsher stinging corals might actually EAT my G.smithii lol...as I woke up one morning I found a fish inside one of the mouths of my Duncan corals...

That was when I started to worry!

 

[Recty]

Cool, in that case I think I might set up one of those 29 gallon biocubes made for a reef and have a small reef tank with a mantis.

 

[Kharn]

Cool, in that case I think I might set up one of those 29 gallon biocubes made for a reef and have a small reef tank with a mantis.

You can actually see the G.smithii in the pics you have proivded where he/she is excavating the underside of the Live Rock to likely make his/her new home, he/she is holding a whole bunch of sand with his/her maxillipeds ready to dump it somewhere else, which just shows you they won't always bore into a solid object.

 

[noidster]

Peacock mantis it is nice job guys and gals

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

lol what ?

 

[Recty]

You can actually see the G.smithii in the pics you have proivded where he/she is excavating the underside of the Live Rock to likely make his/her new home, he/she is holding a whole bunch of sand with his/her maxillipeds ready to dump it somewhere else, which just shows you they won't always bore into a solid object.

That is actually a small piece of live rock in it's maxillipeds. I watched it carry that up to the hole it went into and jam it into a small opening of a burrow it had going straight in the rock.

If/when I do buy this mantis, I hope they will sell me the piece of rock with it.

 

[FLMantis]

This would be perfect for your 10g at work. I would definetly get it.

 

[Recty]

This would be perfect for your 10g at work. I would definetly get it.

From the research I'm doing now that I know it's a G. smithii, I'm agreeing with you.

And actually, I went ahead and purchased one of the Coralife 14g biocubes and am going to set that up at work rather than the 10g. The 10g is already cycled and stable, which is nice, but it doesnt have a light and just looks blah because I was planning on having a peacock and not wanting bright light.

So now with the G. smithii and knowing I can have a small reef, I figured I'd go ahead and get the 14g tank that can support a couple corals and be able to see my mantis better also. I'm excited about that alone, I havent kept a reef for a couple years (I went to 210g FOWLR 2 years ago and got rid of my corals) and am looking forward to keeping a couple inverts again.

 

[Kharn]

If/when I do buy this mantis, I hope they will sell me the piece of rock with it.

They likely will because it'll make it easier on them and if they care about it, easier on the mantis too.

Too catch a mantis in a net in "open water" is a hell of a task.

 

[Recty]

What's funny to me is now that I know the difference between O. scyllarus and G. smithii, it's super obvious that this isnt a peacock. But when I first started reading into it, I had no idea.