Tiny Mantis Found

[ScruffyRubicon]

Doing some fragging today and found a small mantis shrimp of some sort. It was only about 3/8" long and beige. It has to have been in the for a very long time since I have not added anything (rock or coral) in a very long time. I just left him be since I didn't feel anything that size could be much trouble. I have some pods his size.

[Goldenmean]

Hey thats very cool!
My first thought was it may be a pod of some sort . . . but it could be a mantis.
I give you big kudos for thinking it is a mantis
and not freaking out about how you are going to remove this terrible beast before it destroys your tank.
Poor mantis shrimp are so misunderstood.

[ScruffyRubicon]

I actually had it out and was going to take a pic or two to see what everyone else thought but ran out of time to get the pic with out harming the creature. I looked at a bunch of pics and am very positive that it is a mantis of some sort. Like I mentioned it has had to have been there a long time and with its size, I just think it is a smaller species that won't grow much more. My 1" perc tried to eat it on the way back into the abyss, just to give you an idea of its size. He had it all the way into its mouth before spitting it out. I doubt there is a larger mantis around or some of my other fish would have been gone long ago.

[crvz]

Wow, that's pretty small. Surprising to find it with not having added anything lately. Any idea where it is now?

[YLChik]

You are far braver than I am Eric!

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by crvz

Wow, that's pretty small. Surprising to find it with not having added anything lately. Any idea where it is now?

I moved a small rock and there it was on the sand. Amazing I saw it at all with its size. I dropped it back in the tank and watched it fall onto a rock(after my clown tried to eat it). I may be able to find it again if it didn't go too far.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by YLChik

You are far braver than I am Eric!

Just can't imagine it getting much larger since it had to have been there awhile.

[mantisfreak]

Eric,

There are species that stay very small their whole lives.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by mantisfreak

Eric,

There are species that stay very small their whole lives.

Do you have any links that have some pics of those types?

[aquawolf]

Dang, I was hoping you had posted a picture of it Eric.

Hopefully you will see it again in the future and be able to show it to us.

It would be really cool if it just stays small and doesn't hurt anything.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Dang, I was hoping you had posted a picture of it Eric.

Hopefully you will see it again in the future and be able to show it to us.

It would be really cool if it just stays small and doesn't hurt anything.

I know where it landed and hope I can get a pic in the future. I looked a bit ago but didn't see anything. MH just shut off so I am headed in to look again.

[mantisfreak]

Based on size, I would guess Gonodactylellus affinis or possibly a Gonodatylaceus falcatus (possibly even a G. viridis if there were white spots on the carapace).

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK LANG (Eric you know him as MaxxII from SEASL)

[mantisfreak]

Based on size, I would guess Gonodactylellus affinis or possibly a Gonodatylaceus falcatus (possibly even a G. viridis if there were white spots on the carapace).

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK LANG (Eric you know him as MaxxII from SEASL)

[ScruffyRubicon]

Looked similar to the one in the photo except only about 2/3 that size and a lighter beige. Looked at a few more pics and not really sure on the type still.

[mantisfreak]

It could still be a G. affinis. When they molt, they can change color depending on the lighting, food sources, etc. N. wennerae are noted for doing this as well. I've seen them red, yellow, blue, and green.