Tiny Mantis, how long till he grows up?

[tebmsu97]

My wife and I have been keeping a 12 gallon nano tank, nothing but hermits and snails at this point, but we are completely addicted to this hobby.

We have been considering our next tank, and Mantis seems to be calling our names. Low and behold while discussing this and staring at our current tank, we see what we are convinced is a baby mantis shrimp. No more than a 1/4 inch in length, clear, buggy eyes and looks like a tiny little Mantis to us.

Just wondering, if this is a Mantis, how long before this little guy gets to be something we can identify and is there anything we should do to insure his survival up to that point.

 

[savager]

Probably it's not a Mantis. Perhaps over grown pod.

 

[tebmsu97]

By pod, I am assuming you are talking about amphipods and copepods. The little fellow we saw didn't look anything like a copepod and could have possiby been an amphipod, but the amphipods don't seem to have bug eyes like this thing.

As far as behavior, it was scurrying around the live rock. It wasn't swimming or anything, it was definitely crawling around the surface of the rock formation.

I don't know if any of that makes a difference...

 

[justinl]

pics would help if you can get some. did it have raptorial appendages? If so, then there's some evidence towards it being a mantis. If it is a mantis, ou could try cyclopeeze.

 

[tebmsu97]

Definitely a mantis

Definitely a mantis

Well no sign of the little guy until tonight! He is making a small cave under a piece of LR right in front of the tank. My wife and I both noticed what looked to be raptorial appendages on him while he was clearing out pieces of sand. I don't have a camera good enough to take a photo of him, but we are now convinced we have a free hitcher Mantis (even if he is only about a 1/4 inch long).

Will look into cyclopeeze, any other suggestions? We know where his hole is, is there something we can drop right into it to make sure he gets it?

Thanks

 

[Thurge]

You could try giving him a mysis shrimp.

 

[matter1331]

I've seen large amphipods in my 7 gallon munch down on mysis shrimp. Pics would definately help.

 

[tebmsu97]

I will try to get some pics

I will try to get some pics

Camera is really not cut out for this, but I will give it a go.

I think the fella is setting up for a molt, he was covering the front of his hole last night with sand and it appeared completely covered this morning. From what I have read in this forum, if this is a molt it might be a day or two before we see him again.

 

[DanInSD]

'Pods don't live in holes in rock, and certainly don't seal them up! Sounds like a mantis to me!

Most point-n-shoot digital cameras have very good macro modes (better than most SLRs unless you have a good macro lens).

Dan