So why isn't anyone aquaculturing Mantis Shrimp?

[Pea-brain]

There isn't a market we know of. It is near undeniable they are mostly a threat to most people, but there are only like what, 8 people active in the forum, but there are way more than that that own mantids on purpose, and alot of them cruise the boards but don't talk. And then there are other forums such as grimreefers which have their own mantis forum, (I don't think it is very active though) and local clubs. If you can raise say 100 of them (incredibly optimistic BTW unless you start with like a thousand) and sell at 35$ each (assuming you sell them all) you have 3500$. I know I would buy one. I'd like to see a "would you buy a captive bred mantis shrimp" poll up in the general reefing forum and see if you have any interest. Even if not, you still are making the record books by being the first one to raise that species in captivity (unless you raise N. wennerae, N. oerstedii, or G. chiragra)

 

[Gonodactylus]

An easier solution is to do what we do. If you are near an ocean that has stomatopods, it is relatively easy to collect larvae the night that they are going to settle. Postlarvae are just as easy to rear as adults and you have avoided all the planktonic stuff.

When I go to Florida, Hawaii, or the South Pacific, I take a dive light (the brighter the better) and a 10 inch aquarium net. Four days to two weeks following the full moon, find some dark, open coast and wade out waist deep in the water. An hour to or two after sunset is usually best. Many species of stomatopod larvae become photopositive the night that they settle and they will swim to the light. Net them and place them individually into plastic cup d3/4 full of sea water. They will molt by morning and they can be easily transported in 2 oz plastic bottles placed in your luggage. (I have permits to import stomatopods, but you should check with customs and agriculture and definitely declare them.

Particularly good species to collect are Lysiosquillina, Squilla and Pseudosquilla. THey are large and easy to spot as larvae (2-3 cm). Check Google Image for pictures of stomatopod larvae. In the beam of a strong dive light, they take on a characteristic blue white glow that makes them easy to spot and while they are strong swimmers, it is fairly easy to net them. Also, it is amazing what else you will see swimming by.

You can do the same thing on SCUBA, but it is more difficult to collect the larvae. I place an inverteb zip-lock bag over the front of the dive light. The larvae will swim against the lens of the light, so all you have to do is quickly close the bag catching the larvae inside. If you have a large mesh bag in which to place the zip-locks, you can collect several bags full. The only caveat is that when you reach the surface, be careful when you try to pull the bags out of the water. The weight of the water will cause them to pop open, so hand them to someone one at a time.

Roy

 

[Pea-brain]

No offence Dr. Roy, but that is boring! Where is the fun? And you don't get any recognization. it has been done before. And, being the first to do something lets you stand out, and that can help you get into a good collge (Ok, that is one of my reasons. I'm hopefully starting college in a few years and want to get into a good one!) At least it couldn't hurt. And again, I argue no fun!!! (w00t (!) )

 

[Gonodactylus]

I have found more new species and range extensions collecting and rearing larvae than I have collecting adults - and talk about excitement, what could be more stimulating than have a needle-nose stab you in the chest or have several box jellies drift between your legs?

Roy

 

[Pea-brain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9940473#post9940473 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gonodactylus
I have found more new species and range extensions collecting and rearing larvae than I have collecting adults - and talk about excitement, what could be more stimulating than have a needle-nose stab you in the chest or have several box jellies drift between your legs?

Roy

LOL! I have been corrected! Unrtunatey there aren't alot of suitable aquarium species available in the waters of maine I could just immagine sitting waist deep in the freezing water, sticking my head underwater trying to draw them near with a flashght for 2 hours, only to be fined after I finally get few and then having to throw them back for illegal collection, Sounds fun!

Dan

 

[Gonodactylus]

Well, you would definitely want a dry suit if you went in the water, but even in Moorea I often collect from edge of a dock lying on the deck with just my hand and light in the water - the other hand with the net ready to strike. The only species you could expect is Squilla empusa, but they could be interesting to rear. There is one report of Squilla larvae being so thick in New England that they clogged the water intake of a power plant.

Roy

 

[biomekanic]

What kind of permits do you need in Hawaii, asks the guy who might be going there next year. Are the permits difficult to get?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Not really. I have scientific collecting permits, but you can basically get by with what amounts to a fishing license.

Roy

 

[Pea-brain]

I would immagine no one would really care that much if you were collecting things barely visible to the eye. I would immagine you'd have more of a problem getting them in on a plane, especially with the no liquids on planes law. Some kind of importers license would probably be nessecary....