The intelligence and speed of the mantis can be overestimated

[Microcosmos]

I put one, about 3" long, in a tank with lots of rocks to hide in, plenty of deep sand, and a juvenile puffer (maybe 6" when stretched out). The mantis freaked the puffer out at first, but the puffer persisted in attempting to sample the mantis...then the mantis hid. So I figured it would stay hidden and be okay until I could get a new, small tank set up, and went to work (I got it in the morning and I work evenings). Well, I came home and the puffer looked distressed, with a little scratch on its face. "Good," I thought. "The mantis is holding its own, defending its territory." Then I proceeded to look for little stalk eyes, to find where the mantis had made its temporary home. Meanwhile, the puffer started scooting back and forth, which it does sometimes when it's pooping, and I noticed it was pooping...shells.... I then took out every single rock, freaking out my puffer and the blenny and damsels I keep in there, but my worst fear was realised...no mantis (or anyway, no intact, living mantis). The puffer was distressed because it already ATE the mantis, and was having trouble passing the shells.... The puffer has since fully digested the mantis, and I have since purchased an Eclipse 6, which is cycling with LR (from the main tank, already cured), sand and a damsel.

So, the mantis may be mean, quick and smart, but it's not THAT mean, THAT quick or THAT smart. And as far as puffers go, they may be sociable and not at all aggressive toward vertebrate tankmates, but even a skittish one will devour anything with legs (although I've had a blue-legged hermit in there for a year and a half without any attention from the puffer). An expensive lesson--my puffer has doubled in value now. I can't blame it though. I'm feeding it pieces of crabs from the grocery store now, and it loves them. It eats them shells and all! But mantis is a delicacy it will only taste once.

 

[ReefMagic]

Re: The intelligence and speed of the mantis can be overestimated

I put one, about 3" long, in a tank with lots of rocks to hide in, plenty of deep sand, and a juvenile puffer (maybe 6" when stretched out). The mantis freaked the puffer out at first, but the puffer persisted in attempting to sample the mantis...then the mantis hid. So I figured it would stay hidden and be okay until I could get a new, small tank set up, and went to work (I got it in the morning and I work evenings). Well, I came home and the puffer looked distressed, with a little scratch on its face. "Good," I thought. "The mantis is holding its own, defending its territory." Then I proceeded to look for little stalk eyes, to find where the mantis had made its temporary home. Meanwhile, the puffer started scooting back and forth, which it does sometimes when it's pooping, and I noticed it was pooping...shells.... I then took out every single rock, freaking out my puffer and the blenny and damsels I keep in there, but my worst fear was realised...no mantis (or anyway, no intact, living mantis). The puffer was distressed because it already ATE the mantis, and was having trouble passing the shells.... The puffer has since fully digested the mantis, and I have since purchased an Eclipse 6, which is cycling with LR (from the main tank, already cured), sand and a damsel.

So, the mantis may be mean, quick and smart, but it's not THAT mean, THAT quick or THAT smart. And as far as puffers go, they may be sociable and not at all aggressive toward vertebrate tankmates, but even a skittish one will devour anything with legs (although I've had a blue-legged hermit in there for a year and a half without any attention from the puffer). An expensive lesson--my puffer has doubled in value now. I can't blame it though. I'm feeding it pieces of crabs from the grocery store now, and it loves them. It eats them shells and all! But mantis is a delicacy it will only taste once.

Yes it is. Maybe it's because you just put an animal that likes to eat shrimp/crustaceans. its like sticking a mantish in with a 6" triggerfish, and thinking they'll be "friends". I have a peacock mantis about 4" and he leaves the damsel alone because its a bit to fast for him to catch, since he's a smasher. I was even thinking of sticking him in with my 72g reef since he won't attack fast moving fish. Maybe they aren't very mean because they ahve diffrent personalities., but they are fast and smart.

 

[Microcosmos]

Yeah, I guess I figured that the puffer would stop after one try, because there was a time when it sampled the red-lipped blenny...I guess the blenny sat still too long and started looking like a clam mantle. I came home one night to find the blenny with a crescent-shaped indentation on its back, about the size of a puffer beak. But since then (that was a few months ago) the blenny has healed up nicely and the puffer and blenny both go about business as usual.

 

[Microcosmos]

Here's the last picture that will ever be taken of the little guy. I'm sure he's in mantis heaven now, where puffers and triggers are made of toothpicks.

Here's one that shows the puffer and the mantis to scale:

 

[ReefMagic]

The pictues didnt come out, could you try attaching them?

 

[Agu]

You have to take into account the mantis was dumped into unfamiliar territory with neither knowledge of the environment nor a safe lair.

Agu

 

[dc]

Well he was cool looking, such as the food chain.

 

[Microcosmos]

ReefMagic, how about these: mantis, mantis and puffer. Agu, you're definitely right, but I just had the impression that the mantis would be a little hellion. It was definitely healthy and active and it did hide after the puffer tried to bite it. There are plenty of hiding spaces ready-made that the puffer can't reach, but maybe the damsels scared it out, or maybe the mantis thought it was safe to venture out again, I'm not sure. I was definitely under the impression though that the mantis would be too much for my mild-mannered, skittish puffer to handle. Debi, you're right, and the mantis was definitely the food in that situation. Those puffer teeth are pretty effective for mantis munching, lightning-speed claws, enhanced color vision and all...

 

[Microcosmos]

Those links don't seem to work either...try cutting and pasting the url's into your browser's address bar: http://images3.fotki.com/v37/free/94a2b/1/107536/404234/deadmantis-or.jpg and http://images3.fotki.com/v36/free/94a2b/1/107536/404234/pufferandmantistoscale-or.jpg

 

[Agu]

Microcosmos,

I suspect you're highly intelligent with good eyesight and a hellion to boot. Lets parachute you into Baghdad wearing only your "I "heart" America" pajamas. There are plenty of places to hide...............

j/k

Agu

 

[Microcosmos]

Agu, yep, I definitely underestimated my juvy puffer...I thought he was gonna be a pussycat. Pretty irresponsible of me, I realise now. Next time, the mantis is gonna get its own private quarters.

P.S. I don't wear pajamas.

[boxers. I wear boxers.]