here is all the info on my new mantis. I ordered it not knowing exactly what i was going to get. I ended up with the spearing pseudosquilla ciliata. my friend ryan helped me get everything set up and he threw together all the stats on master shredder for me to put on Royââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s List of Commonly Available Stomatopods from Commercial Suppliers
To all mantis owners: get it identified by Roy and compile all the info you can so we can assist ourselves with id rather than keep on buggin ole roy. thanks
Species: Pseudosquilla ciliata
Common names: False Mantis, Rainbow Mantis
Functional type: spearer
Range: tropical and sub-tropical waters except for the west coast of the Americas
Habitat: sandy bottoms, often near reefs, on reef flats or in grass beds
Depth: low intertidal to at least 50 m; more common in shallow waters
Home: burrower, digs shallow u-shaped burrows; juveniles live in cavities in live rock
Diet: generalist - small crustaceans, particularly shrimp, worms, small fish
Size: 20 ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 95 mm
Color: variable; green, yellow, brown, black, cream. Can be one solid color, have a stripe running down the back, or a mottled appearance. Color and pattern often matches color of habitat. Will change color in the aquarium across molts depending onlighting a habitat color.
Distinguishing characters: checker board pattern on eyes
Activity: diurnal, closes burrow at night. Actively forages away from burrow
Aquarium requirements:
Temperature: 21 ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 28 C
Salinity: 32-35 ppt
Cohabitants: will prey on small fish and shrimp; generally safe with gastropods and large crabs, shifts lots of sand digging so may bury coral
Aquarium: sand bottom, pvc pipe for burrow or can dig under rock
Suitability for Aquarium: excellent
Availability: occasionally available from Florida, Hawaii and Indo-Pacific, particularly from reef flat collectors
To all mantis owners: get it identified by Roy and compile all the info you can so we can assist ourselves with id rather than keep on buggin ole roy. thanks
Species: Pseudosquilla ciliata
Common names: False Mantis, Rainbow Mantis
Functional type: spearer
Range: tropical and sub-tropical waters except for the west coast of the Americas
Habitat: sandy bottoms, often near reefs, on reef flats or in grass beds
Depth: low intertidal to at least 50 m; more common in shallow waters
Home: burrower, digs shallow u-shaped burrows; juveniles live in cavities in live rock
Diet: generalist - small crustaceans, particularly shrimp, worms, small fish
Size: 20 ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 95 mm
Color: variable; green, yellow, brown, black, cream. Can be one solid color, have a stripe running down the back, or a mottled appearance. Color and pattern often matches color of habitat. Will change color in the aquarium across molts depending onlighting a habitat color.
Distinguishing characters: checker board pattern on eyes
Activity: diurnal, closes burrow at night. Actively forages away from burrow
Aquarium requirements:
Temperature: 21 ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 28 C
Salinity: 32-35 ppt
Cohabitants: will prey on small fish and shrimp; generally safe with gastropods and large crabs, shifts lots of sand digging so may bury coral
Aquarium: sand bottom, pvc pipe for burrow or can dig under rock
Suitability for Aquarium: excellent
Availability: occasionally available from Florida, Hawaii and Indo-Pacific, particularly from reef flat collectors
