Such difficulty finding Mantis Shrimp rant!

kkwa

New member
I've had my dedicated Mantis tank setup for over 2 months now and I'm starting to feel that I'll never get the mantis I'm looking for. I purchased a new Biocube 14, modded it and purchased a bunch of stuff for it and when it comes time to get a mantis....none available...

Was originally looking for a Smithii but with no luck there I opened up to peacock or chiragra.

None of my LFS have any and I'm on just about on every "to order list" from the LFS. Bluezooaquatics email list..I get an email, I check the minute I receive the email, sold out (has the email me button there)...Diversden no luck. TBS only has wannarae, other places online say they're in stock but when I call, they either aren't in stock or have no clue what they are...

My GF jokes about how I bought the biocube to raise a rock in it (Har Har) =\


If anyone knows of anyone/where/person/vendor/online selling any of the 3 species I listed above...PLEASE let me know!
 
I feel for you bud I waited for three months on whatever they could find me. I was told it was a peacock but turned out to be g. Ternatensis. The only thing my lfs know about mantis's is they are "problematic" and I shouldn't get one. But what the hell do they know anyway : )
I wish you luck on your endeavor, and hang in there. You will appreciate having one so much more, I did.
 
You have to be extremely fast when you receive an in stock notification from places like Blue Zoo Aquatics and Live Aquaria.

For example, yesterday Blue Zoo Aquatics sent out a notification for a g smithii. According to Gmail the in stock email came through at 6:17 pm and the order confirmation email came through at 6:19 :D

I've grabbed a few things from Live Aquaria in the past by being super quick as well. The trick is to have all your account info filled out on the sites and be logged in when the emails come through.
 
I did not plan on having a mantis but became the Mommy of N. Wennerrea. He came via LR six months ago. He is the cutest little thing. I had such fears of getting one now I would not want to lose him. Good luck on your search:bounce3: Charlene
 
*GASP!!!!* It was YOU that stole my mantis! :D I got all excited seeing the email then BAM. GOODBYE EUPHORIA. HELLO DESPAIR AND DEPRESSION.

*sniffle*



You have to be extremely fast when you receive an in stock notification from places like Blue Zoo Aquatics and Live Aquaria.

For example, yesterday Blue Zoo Aquatics sent out a notification for a g smithii. According to Gmail the in stock email came through at 6:17 pm and the order confirmation email came through at 6:19 :D

I've grabbed a few things from Live Aquaria in the past by being super quick as well. The trick is to have all your account info filled out on the sites and be logged in when the emails come through.
 
Here's the real kicker... a PHP developer was faster than a Linux admin ;)

It's kind of funny though. Almost every time someone snatches a prize coral, fish or mantis it's usually someone from one of the fish forums. I can't tell you how many "IT WAS YOU!!!" posts I've read over the years on various forums :P
 
I blame google. Or my lack of desire to check email. EITHER WAY, THIEF!#%!# :D

Normally, I would inject some sort of this code is cooler then PHP joke, but the darkness and despair is just to much! It's like being forced to admin windows! GAH
 
Hey! if you still want a peacock I can get those all dizamn day long from my local LFS. I'll happily trade you for the terny! Peacocks are to big for the tank I have set up. :D

I feel for you bud I waited for three months on whatever they could find me. I was told it was a peacock but turned out to be g. Ternatensis. The only thing my lfs know about mantis's is they are "problematic" and I shouldn't get one. But what the hell do they know anyway : )
I wish you luck on your endeavor, and hang in there. You will appreciate having one so much more, I did.
 
Normally, I would inject some sort of this code is cooler then PHP joke, but the darkness and despair is just to much! It's like being forced to admin windows! GAH
Nah, being forced to code ASP is worse than being forced to admin windows. I swear they dug that stuff out of the reject bin from the late 80s.


Btw, have you tried Arizona Aquatic Gardens since you're in AZ? They usually have all kinds of mantis but they just list them as "assorted colors" online. You have to drop by and ID them.
 
AH THIEF! LOL

I got the same email from BZA but I wasn't behind a comp so I had to use my iphone. I blame AT&T's slow 3g speeds.

I just found 1 shop that had 3 mantis species. They're not all that familiar with them but they did ID one to be a Chiragra. The other 2 are random they said. I'll be going to see them next weekend (work hours conflicting) They said they would email me pictures of all 3 but so far no emails. Has anyone got any feedback on Chiragras? Active/Shy? hardy? Nip at corals..ect?

I'd still like a smithii or peacock but the Chiragra isn't sounding to bad at this point. The wannerae would of been 4th on the list. I guess I had already decided which mantis I wanted Before I even had the tank for him. So after the money and time spent on the tank and just waiting I'd just really would rather hold out.

On a side note...my GF bought me a Clown so I wouldn't have to stare at my pet rock :lolspin:. When the mantis comes in I'll move him over to my bigger reef tank.
 
Another questions for you guys,

Think a Peacock would be terribly sad in a 14g Biocube? a friend at a lfs has one in his but Dr. Roy's list says it'll need a bigger tank. I guess I may have just answered my own questions but was just wondering if any of you guys have a peacock in something smaller then suggested?
 
No. I have a 14G cube hence why I'm looking for a smithii or tern since they are still 'decent sized' but not AS big as a peacock, but still purdy and interactive as well.

The only time would be if you get a small one, say and inch or two, maaybee 3 but I don't know how fast peacocks grow. Then as it starts to hit that 3 to 3.5 mark upgrade the tank to something bigger. Should be in a 30G (long/wide, not tall) or a 40G breeder.

Peacocks get pretty big. While I'm sure it would SURVIVE in it, it's not fair to the animal to squeeze it so tight.
 
Yes, yes we do.

G. ternatensis is ridiculously shy - ours comes out on occasion to say hello, but we usually go weeks without seeing him.

There's an LFS here that stocks mantis shrimp with some regularity. Right now they've got a "zebra" or "bumblebee" in, a nice little 4-inch girl that's missing a raptorial. they also ship, which is great. http://www.aquarium-outfitters.com/
My only issue is that they rarely update the website, but I've heard they're pretty good about e-mails.
 
Can't beat the price for it shipped as well. AZ's O. scy. would run be about $100. Sealife's around 60-80 for their Osterdeii...hmmm.

I've had a viridis for about 3 weeks now and it never comes out from under its barnacle rock. It's the only inhabitant, besides a few tiny hermits, but am discouraged how shy it is. Perhaps it's still settling in.

I understand that in many cases, it depends on the individual stom. but all in all are the wen's quite interactive and scurry around more? I have another system up and running and want another but am still undecided on the 3 species I could get now. Wen, oster or scyl's.
 
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