What to look for on O. scyllarus

[catdoc]

In my never-ending quest to learn about my new pet BEFORE he comes home I have yet another question! (Sick of me yet??) I read about people shelling out money for what is sold as a peacock (O.scyllarus) just to find out that the id was wrong. What should I look for so I know for sure? I just want to be sure that I have the habitat set up correctly and if I'm planning for one thing, don't want to have to shift gears after I get the critter home.

What I do know: the eyes are rounder, but w/o another mantis for comparison, I'm not sure I'll recognize "rounder".

The dactyls are "toothed", got a pic of that?

Nice colors but that's not a good indicator of species all the time.

Thanks!

 

[Gonodactylus]

No other stomatopod comes close to having the same color pattern to O. scyllarus. The antennal scales are green on the front and orange on the back, the uroopods have have a deep irridescent blue and the carapace has a spotted geometric pattern.

 

[catdoc]

As long as I'm at it (and my thread still has no replies), more questions! (edited b/c I see Dr Roy posted at the same time I did!)

The tank (37 gal) is filled, warmed, and circulating. I added 10-15 lbs of well-cured LR from my display (it's been in there over a year) as well as one of the sponges I use to cover the PH intakes from the main tank. Between the cured LR and the colonized sponge filter, I'm hoping the get the cycle along a bit more quickly. Now the Q's:

1.)How much LR would you use in a mantis tank of this size? I used 1 1/2 lbs/gal in my reef tanks, but didn't know if I'd need that much for just the one invert.

2.)How long before tank is ready? I'll "feed" the tank today and start testing tomorrow to see if I notice a cycle. The last time I started a tank this way, I never did catch an ammonia spike though. I'm anxious but trying so hard to be patient!

 

[Spudstr]

the peacocks or all stoma's are pretty hardy creatures. 37g is a great size for him. .. as far as live rock goes.. as long as he has enough to hide under/in is great. i curently have 2 peices in my 20l that are probably 10lbs total.. and he lives between/under them.

tank ready? i've known a couple people to just buy everything for the tank and just drop him in the same day.. you'll be surprised with how hard/much they don't care.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Setting up everything for an aquarium and adding an animal the size of an O. scyllarus is a recipe for disaster. If you are using LR, it will often cycle for weeks. Even if the LR is in good condition with a good bacterial base, a chuck of uneaten food or a molt skin left undetected can send the system off the deep end with respect to ammonia and nitrite and pH can drop. Sure, you may get away with it, but you are taking a big chance.

Roy

 

[catdoc]

So, should I follow the usual rule of 1-2 lbs/gal of water for the O.s. tank? I will be testing the water during the cycle, but would like to get all the rock in now rather than cycle what's there only to have to add more later and start cycling again.

Thanks!

 

[dc]

I personally don't go by the per gallon theory. Make it look good to your taste. My guy is a rock dweller, so I got 3 rocks with lots of holes in them. So far he's poking his head out the middle of the tepee I made for him. If you end up with a sand dweller then go for sand.

 

[catdoc]

Went back to the lfs (actually, not so "local" as it's over an hour away...) and put a hold on MY mantis! The newer one of the two they ordered in was out and about today so I got a good look at both of them this time. They are both definitely O.s. I decided to go with the smaller one of the two for a couple of reasons. I figure it is probably younger so I'm hoping that means it'll adapt easier and have a longer lifespan in the tank. The larger one, while absolutely gorgeous, appears to be missing its raptorial appendages. I think I could see little nubs of regrowth, but figured why take the chance on it. The one I picked is about 3 inches long, the larger one easily 5-6.

I told the store that I'm definitely going to be back for the smaller one in a couple of weeks, so they're going to hold her for me until her tank is ready. I'm psyched!! I have been pestering them since October for a mantis of some kind. Initially I was going to take a hitch-hiker, but in December I got tired of waiting and requested the special order of O.s. Turns out, they also found a little green mantis in the LR tank right before the peacocks arrived. He's a cute little guy, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long and bright green. Almost makes me want to start up a little nano for him...