what mantis makes the best pet?

odontodactylus

New member
For all those interested in purchasing a mantis shrimp, let me give some needed advice. I have collected-studied all types of mantis shrimps. By far the best species to watch and interact with are the peacock mantis shrimps(Odontodactylus sp.). This species is far less nervous than other species, and I believe that their vision is better than most species as well. This species will ultimately interact the most with its owner and its environment. To get to the point, the most enjoyable mantis to keep, in my opinion, is the peacock mantis. I have purchased a few in the past from Flying Fish Express. These shrimps are well worth the price.
 
While I certainly agree that Odontodactylus scyllarus, aka peacock, painted, harleguin mantis) are interesting, interactive and big, they to have problems. Large males are prone to shell disease and both sexes have difficulty molting in captivity and frequently lose a raptorial appendage. I wish we could point to these problems and say that they are simply cases of poor diet and/or water quality, but unfortunately, we can't identify all of the factors involved. As an aside, they do not have the best vision, although they certainly see well enough.

For me personally, I prefer some of the smaller Odontodactylus, O. brevirostris from Hawaii and O. havanensis from Florida. THey are even more interactive than O. scyllarus, are a bit easier to keep (although they don't live as long), and generally do more.

Other favorites would be Gonodactylus smithii, by far one of the most spectacularly color stomatopods, and Pseudosquilla ciliata, the cats of the manitis shrimp family.

Hey, they are all great - it is just that some are greater than others.

Roy
 
mantis vision

mantis vision

Thanks for the information, by the way which mantis can actually see the best. Also, how well can they actually see, do they see heat? Why are scientist studying the vision of these shrimps. Also, it is wonderful that this mantis community can rely on Dr. Roy for information and guidence. Thanks.
 
Different species have different capabilities, but in general gonodactylids living in the intertidal appear to have the broadest color spectral range and probably the highest resolution.

We don't know of any species that can see heat, but they definitely can see into the long red which most crustaceans can't. On the other hand, they see well into the UV with three different visual pigments sensitive in this region. So far the most complicated eye we have studied in stomatopods are gonodactylids with 16 visual pigments (we have three for color vision), 4 colored filters, and the ability to see in 3 different e-vectors (polarized fliters. This is the most complicated eye know on the planet

Roy
 
since this is the freshest thread that the good doctor is replying in i figured i'd jump in and ask if you know what mantis it is that i have. it looks just like the one in this thread (the top picture) http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48059 from the sam florida area, she's about three inches, blue/ green smashers, red body, yellow eyes. eats ghost shrimp and scallop meat very well. just basically wondering what her max size will be?? (just calling it a her because of her temprament, no actual sex known :p ). she's very curious and interactive .
 
This is Neogonodactylus wennerae, the most common gonodactylid coming out of Florida Keys live rock. From the color, you can bet it is a female. Males usually are dark green.

Roy
 
many thanks doctor. :) do you know her max size so i can plan ahead? (she looks great in the 5.5 but if she is going to get over 5" i'll be in trouble).
 
Anyone have an idea as to how well a odontodactylus scyllarus would do with a bubble-tip anenome? Also, I'm extremely afraid of having the shrimp bust my tank, is there any way I can prevent this? And lastly, can anyone reccomend where to get an O. brevirostris or O. havanensis at? Or are O. scyllarus' the only ones around? I've looked at FFE and Anchor, but they only have O. scyllarus. BTW, what're the ratings for these two mail-order companies? Thanks for the advice.
 
make friends with someone at a local fish store and tell them to save the ones they get off their live rock shipments as opposed to squashing them. i got mine for 4 bucks that way.
 
It is unfortunate that Odontodactylus other than O. scyllarus aren't available. THey make superb residents of small systems. I keep my research animals in 1 gal tanks with a simple Fluval and two inches of sand/coral gravel and they do very well.

O. havanensis is common off the Florida Keys, but generally lives at 20 m + on open sand plains.

O. brevirostris is common in Hawaii at 10 m+ on coralline algal slopes.

O. latirostris is common in Indonesia at 10m+ on open plains.

I have been trying for a couple of years to find divers interested in collecting these species, but so far without success. For my research, I go get them myself. Given that I usually can collect and transport back to Berkeley more than 30 animals or so, they usually end up costing my at least $100 each. If I could purchase them at the same price as O. scyllarus, I would be buying all I could find.

The most common to show up is the occasional O. havanensis from Florida since they occur in the same habitat and have the same kind of burrow as yellow jawfish.

Roy
 
Tampa Bay Saltwater (tbsaltwater.com) sells mantis's for a whopping $8, IIRC. give them a try, and be sure to tell them I sent you, maybe they'll give me a credit, ; )
 
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