sexing a "peacock"

[Agilecrux]

I am getting a "peacock" tonight and I was wondering if anyone knows how to sex a Mantis Shrimp?

 

[moviegeek]

If it is O. scyllarus the males have bright emerald green carapaces, while the females have olive green to tan or beige colored carapaces.

 

[Scotty]

Males have a pair of Gonopores (penises).One attached to the inside base of each of the last pair of walking legs. They hang down and almost touch in the middle of his body. Females have a pair of Gonopores in a sort of figure eight lloking dealy on the line that connects the first pair of walking legs underneath her.

 

[ISFRAEL]

hey scotty

do mantis always have these gonopores present at all times or are they only present during a breeding season? ( if they have set breeding seasons that is? )

 

[moviegeek]

There is no breeding season, according to Dr. Caldwell. Read his response here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=18268

Basically, the females are always ready to mate, and so are the males, so long as they are not about to molt.

 

[Scotty]

I think I mis stated. Males have gonoPODS. Females have gonopores. And just like moviegeek said they're always there. If you don't see the male's 'pods' a hangin', you've got a female. If you haven't yet, read down the previous threads where Roy Caldwell answered a LOT of FAQ's in email correspondence with me last year. Lots of good mantis info. Good luck with your bug.

 

[Agilecrux]

thanks for the help..

thanks for the help..

thanks for the help.