Wild territory?

[mickey85]

For the typical, active, smaller species (i.e. SMithii, etc), what would its territory look like? how about for an O.S.?

I'm curious about this...granted, there are species that never leave their hole (i.e. platysoma, or at least mine, and a few others), but what about the active ones?

 

[Diet Plain]

I usually use just some rocks, and mabe some corals if your lights are strong enough. I also put in some Caulerpa to help with water quality and a good sandbed. My friend just had a pile of baserock for his Odontodactylus scylarrus and that worked great for his. Be creative with your setup in anyway you can.

 

[mickey85]

I already have a Platysoma in a setup like the one you are describing - I know how to set up a mantis in aquaria. What I was meaning is, if you go diving in the ocean, how big of a territory will you see a peacock (for instance) covering?

You know how lions have huge territories that they defend, etc? Does that happen in the Mantis world as well?

 

[Diet Plain]

probably depends on the species. When i was in the bahamas on a snorkeling trip, we stopped at a little island for lunch, and my friend and i looked over the edge of the dock in shallow water, about 1-2feet. Within a 3foot radius of one hole, we saw several others, and proceeded to see atleast 5 different mantis shrimps come out of their burrows. We didn't see the use any hostility towards eachother. As for a peacock, I would suspect it defends a pretty good territory, or maybe it just sticks to it's burrow and hunts and comes back.

 

[mattyice]

peacocks i guess can be thought of like lions from my understanding, they will go out and hunt but they still have their home territory, there immediate territory might only be a pile of rocks but im sure if they were out and saw another peacock or threat to its territory it would fight it

 

[caynus]

Over here in Australia on the reef I see all different types of territories. Generally the spearers live closer together and there can be as much as 4 or 5 in a 7ft circle. The seem to prefer the sandy holes and sand flats between big coral bommies or around the reefs, and in the estuaries and tidal flats aslo. Because spearers prefer sandy burrows they are generally less aggressive toward other conspecifics because a new sand burrow can be created quite easily, so competition for homesites isn't as critical or worthwhile. Why risk life and dactyl over a burrow which can be created again easily?

On the other hand, I have been snorkelling and seen some smashers with territories that are huge. Some smashers appear to control and guard burrows and territories in areas up to 8 or 9 ft across. Obviously its hard to tell whether or not another stomatopod is in the area, but ive had a good look and seen nothing, and observed the mantis rush out and defend against other animals entering the territory. Unlike spearers, because of the rarity, and relatively difficulty of the construction or discovery of a rock burrow, smashers are normally very aggressive and territorial.

Anyway, hope that was helpful and along the lines of what you wanted to find out.
Caynus

 

[Gonodactylus]

G. platysoma is actually a very active species that forages over wide area. It is not unusual to seem them go several meters. I usually collect them by finding individuals out an about. They are just as active in the field as G. chiragra, but perhaps not as active as G. smithii. P. ciliata also ranges widely.

To my knowledge, there are few data on territorial defense in stomatopods beyond the area immediately surrounding the burrow or cavity. Animals will maintain an individual distance and my fight with another individual that they encounter, but actual territoral defense beyond a couple of meters has not been documented. That doesn't mean that it doesn't occur. We just haven't looked.

On the other hand, animals will range a fair distance from their burrow. I've followed Hemisquilla over 50 m and I've seen O. scyllarus 10 - 15 m from their burrow.

Roy

 

[mickey85]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8561899#post8561899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gonodactylus
G. platysoma is actually a very active species that forages over wide area. It is not unusual to seem them go several meters. I usually collect them by finding individuals out an about. They are just as active in the field as G. chiragra, but perhaps not as active as G. smithii. P. ciliata also ranges widely.

To my knowledge, there are few data on territorial defense in stomatopods beyond the area immediately surrounding the burrow or cavity. Animals will maintain an individual distance and my fight with another individual that they encounter, but actual territoral defense beyond a couple of meters has not been documented. That doesn't mean that it doesn't occur. We just haven't looked.

On the other hand, animals will range a fair distance from their burrow. I've followed Hemisquilla over 50 m and I've seen O. scyllarus 10 - 15 m from their burrow.

Roy

So Dr Roy, is there a reason that you list Platysoma as being not very active on your list, and my two platys more or less hiding for their entire lives? They don't even come out to investigate when I drop in new hermits...

That's interesting about the other species. The reason I asked is that I knew that they don't tolerate each other in aquaria (for the most part) and was wondering if this was a more expansive thing than what you would see in typical aquaria, or if it was based on the artificial setups that we have them in.

 

[Gonodactylus]

In aquaria, G. platysoma are reclusive. In the field they occur in the low intertidal and forage away from the burrow (and look for mates) when the water is less than a few inches deep and the fish predators are driven off the reef. G. chiragra and G. smithii do the same thing.

Roy

 

[mickey85]

Interesting...have you done any experiments with lowering the water level in aquariums to simulate their natural foraging habitat? In other words, a "tidal" sort of tank. If so, are they more active?

 

[Gonodactylus]

No. You would probably have to set up a system that generates a tidal cycle.

Roy

 

[mickey85]

Cool. It would be interesting to try. Thanks again Dr. Roy!

 

[Uriel]

My G. platysoma acts (In the tank) just like Dr. Roy states for the field.
I realize that I am very lucky in this, and he (Glaurung) has been a favorite of mine since I picked him up. My cats also love him, as he provides entertainment (Aquarium = cat T.V.) for them to observe.
Both of my G. chiraga are pretty reclusive, although Athena will move out and about from time to time. My first chiraga (Freya) only exits to feed/chase down a crab.

Ah well, my platysoma kicking so much butt in the behavior department makes up for reclusive chiragas.

-Ron