My Mantis??

skeety · 08-30-2005, 11:38 AM

Okay...some back-story.

About 3 months ago, I removed a piece of LR from my display, cause I suspected it to have contained a Mantis Shrimp.

SO ... being the animal lover I am, I set up a species only 10 gln tank just for the mantis. I've caught brief glimpses of him from time to time...but still never really got a good look.

Well...he's getting braver (but still a scaredy shrimp, mind you), and he actually will dart out a little slower for food now.

I've seen him inching his way out of the rock, and has these two circular/disc-like antennae, so I'm still thinking it's a mantis. But I did manage to catch a few shots (horrible as they are) of him, and was just looking for a 2nd opinion.

I apologize not only for the quality of the pics, but the fact that he's only crawling in them, and not standing, bent up with the antennae I just talked about. Anyways...any opinions?

The lady says it looks like a worm, or centapede, but this thing is WAY to quick to be a worm of any kind. I mean...this thing is FAST!

Anyways...probably not worth a crap...but figured it can't hurt to try:

menelaus22 · 08-30-2005, 11:41 AM

that's without a doubt a mantis. My sister had one in her tank and we couldn't get it out of the rock for anything. I tried dripping the rock in seltzer, fresh water, then hot water...Also made one of those inverted bottle traps, to no avail. There was NO way he was getting out...

cath · 08-30-2005, 11:43 AM

Hmmm...I think I have photos of a dead one of those at home. I'll see if I can find that pic.

skeety · 08-30-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menelaus22

There was NO way he was getting out...

Yeah...we'd tried everything to get him out of the rock too...and NOTHING. He had a home somewhere in side it...and was NOT leaving! Luckily, it was a little 5lb rock, so we just moved the rock!

He's SOOO interesting...can't wait until he grows up.

Tammy (the wife-to-be) was all excited until we started seeing him. She's worried because he's kind of dull in color compared to all the pics I showed her. I'm trying to tell her that it's just a juvenile, and it'll color up when it gets bigger. (It's about 3/4" long now).

am I right in that? or will we always have a dull-brown mantis?

wharyat · 08-30-2005, 01:08 PM

Most of them have pretty good coloration, especially the peacock. Some species are a brownish/tan color. I'm not sure on juvenile vs. adult color, but it might color up; someone with experience will prolly post.

Very cool little beast.

pnkpanther · 08-30-2005, 02:34 PM

i'm no expert, but tahts a mantis

and the people i know who have one love their character and find em highly entertaining...i'm debating setting up a small species tank for one

menelaus22 · 08-30-2005, 02:54 PM

They've had a yellow mantin at my LFS for 29 bucks that no one will buy. I'm thinking about setting up a little nano for the guy in my office but want to make sure he wouldn't be able to slam through the acrylic

Amand · 08-30-2005, 03:00 PM

You would be better off with acrylic than glass. They have been known to crack glass tanks on occasion when they get bigger. Yours looks like a mantis to me as well but tough to say which kind without better pics.

skeety · 08-30-2005, 03:21 PM

I'll keep updating over time, as I get better pics. He's slowly getting used to us. (emphasis on slowly), but he's SOO worth it! Very interesting guy!

as for the ability to break plastic...no doubt. But even glass and acrylic is up for debate. Although the main mantis info site I found has the following quote:
(not sure how I feel about it...hehe)

"The prey strike of the stomatopods is something that has slowly become enshrined in superlatives, with commentators and writers waxing lyrical about the speed and power of this beautifully simple, yet undeniably deadly, act. In many ways it has become the stuff of which myths have been made, and stories about mantis shrimps breaking aquarium glass and slashing and severely wounding human handlers abound. The awe and respect accorded to it has filtered down even to those who dabble in marine aquaria, a fiercely anti-stomatopod lot who regularly loathe the beast with a vehemence reserved only for those things which would deny them their elaborate saltwater and reef glass communities."

from http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

skeety · 08-30-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wharyat

Most of them have pretty good coloration, especially the peacock. Some species are a brownish/tan color. I'm not sure on juvenile vs. adult color, but it might color up; someone with experience will prolly post.

Very cool little beast.

Research just answered my question. Here's a quote:

"The mantis molted the day before I moved him out of the 29 gallon tank. His (her?) colors keep getting better with each molt. The top of its carapace was an ugly beige-brown a couple of months ago. Now much of it has turned a dark olive green, starting at the tail and moving toward the back of its head."

and I found a few other similar stories on my way.

pnkpanther · 08-30-2005, 03:56 PM

sounds good

i'm getting to point of wanting to set up a species tank for one myself

VWD · 08-30-2005, 09:00 PM

You can buy them from someone online , I can't think of who It is. I think They are cool. I don't want one in my reef.

cath · 08-30-2005, 10:18 PM

Here's a pic of the one that had been in my tank. Not positive of the ID, though.

menelaus22 · 08-31-2005, 11:58 AM

holy cow cath, what'd you do to that thing... steam it for 5 minutes?

cath · 08-31-2005, 10:50 PM

Nawww..that just a super macro pic of it.

Besides, it wouldn't go at all well with oatmeat

Is that what your shrimp looks like, Skeety?