Are you smarter than a mantis shrimp?

[metalhead]

I caught me a mantis shrimp earlier today... He's a nice one too, about 3.5'' and nicely colored. I'll try to get some pics of him for anyone who wants to see. He's currently residing in my fuge while I determine his fate... If anyone's interested I'll let him go for the tidy sum of $500 which is extremely negotiable!

[Future]

Being most people don't want them in a home aquaria.... lets see the pic's

[metalhead]

Here's one I snapped with the iPhone when I first pulled him out, doesn't really do him justice though... you can't really see them here, but he does have some beautiful peacock-ish markings on his extremeties. I'll try to get the D-1 out with the macro and get some better pics tonight or over the weekend.

He is quite a remarkable creature... Now he just sits in the fuge between the skimmer and pump and watches whatever's going on in front of the tank. If you get close to him he starts rolloing around in circles and standing up looking at you. Almost like a dog doing tricks or begging for food!

[Ninong]

3.5" Wow!

That's a pretty big size to find as a hitchhiker. Good thing you got him out. I was going to suggest that you post in Reef Central's Mantis Shrimp Forum but looks like you already have.

[metalhead]

3.5" Wow!

That's a pretty big size to find as a hitchhiker. Good thing you got him out. I was going to suggest that you post in Reef Central's Mantis Shrimp Forum but looks like you already have.

Yep, he's a nice one! I'd really like to keep him but I'd much prefer to have a good cleaning crew someday and maybe a few fishes. He was also in a glass tank which I also hear can lead to big, wet problems eventually. Regardless though I have found a local taker so it looks like I won't have to break out the butter and cocktail sauce after all which is what I was really trying to avoid. ;)

At this point I'm guessing that it's probably not a good idea to try transporting the little fella in a plastic bag. What would you suggest? Think a mason jar would work ok? I have to drive him about 50 miles to his destination.

[Ninong]

There are two different types: the ones that spear and the ones that club. I'm pretty sure it's the club type that are capable of breaking thin glass once they get large (6"-12").

I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference what you use to transport it but don't you have some of those plastic Tubberware food containers? You could just use one of those in the 2-cup size. Or whatever size you have. Everybody has those for freezing food, etc. I would be surprised if you don't have something like that.



P.S. -- I don't think your 3.5" mantis is going to break anything but maybe you should avoid a thin plastic bag in case it's one of the spearing types, which I think it is, but I really can't see anything at all in your picture.

[metalhead]

There are two different types: the ones that spear and the ones that club. I'm pretty sure it's the club type that are capable of breaking thin glass once they get large (6"-12").

I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference what you use to transport it but don't you have some of those plastic Tubberware food containers? You could just use one of those in the 2-cup size. Or whatever size you have. Everybody has those for freezing food, etc. I would be surprised if you don't have something like that.



P.S. -- I don't think your 3.5" mantis is going to break anything but maybe you should avoid a thin plastic bag in case it's one of the spearing types, which I think it is, but I really can't see anything at all in your picture.

I think he's a clubber... I heard him tapping the glass on more than one occasion while I was still in Mantis denial if that's a way to tell. In fact, judging by other pictures I've seen I'd say he's a Peackock Mantis.

Tupperware... Why didn't I think of that?

Great idea Ninong - Thanks!

[Ninong]

Yes, that sounds like the clubbing type. They can get to 7"-8" in length, so you have a fairly large one at 3.5". Most people find them as 1.5"-2" hitchhikers.

P.S. -- Is it sort of a very bright green color?

[metalhead]

Yes, that sounds like the clubbing type. They can get to 7"-8" in length, so you have a fairly large one at 3.5". Most people find them as 1.5"-2" hitchhikers.

P.S. -- Is it sort of a very bright green color?

Greenish brown/orange with peacock-like markings on tail fins, not really bright green but rather greenish hues here and there.

[Ninong]

You're probably right about it being a peacock mantis and a clubber.

[kevinpo]

They can make a very interesting species only display. Sometimes they will coexist with a couple of quick damsels. Here is a couple of pictures I took of one I had.

Cheers,
Kevin

[Ninong]

That last photo is a great shot of the tail coloration and pattern.

[FireEater]

Here is mine at about 3.5 inches now. Great and fun to raise, though must be a dedicated tank.

He has 3 damsels in with him though and he never bothers them. I was hoping he would weed them out, but apparently I have a docile Mantis.

[Ninong]

That's a real beauty, Mark.

[FireEater]

Thanks, I really like this guy as he has a personality it seems. He will watch your every move and knows when he is going to be fed.

Sometimes I'll go catch and throw in a bunch of ghost shrimp, other times a I'll go catch a hermit or two for him. Most of the time he just eats frozen Krill though.

He is beautiful to watch swimming around the tank catching the shrimp. Especially when he flares out his front end.

[Miquel]

Ive had a mantis in my tank for a couple years now but havent seen him/her yet. Just hear the tell tale clicking sounds every once in a while and the regular disappearance of snails, crabss, and occaisionally fish. Decided to try starving him out once by not aadding any more snails or crabs. After a few months, I didnt her any more clicks so thought he was dead and added some more snails. Click click and the snails are disapearing again. Guess next round Ill have to wait a while longer

[metalhead]

Ive had a mantis in my tank for a couple years now but havent seen him/her yet. Just hear the tell tale clicking sounds every once in a while and the regular disappearance of snails, crabss, and occaisionally fish. Decided to try starving him out once by not aadding any more snails or crabs. After a few months, I didnt her any more clicks so thought he was dead and added some more snails. Click click and the snails are disapearing again. Guess next round Ill have to wait a while longer

I doubt you'd be able to starve him to death as long as you're adding any type of food to the tank (ie: fish food). Have you tried making trap for him? If you can figure out which rock he's residing in you can remove said rock and give it a quick FW dip or shoot some FW in the holes with a syringe, at which point he'll come right out.

If you can capture him it will be worth your time as you should be able to get some credit for him at the LFS or trade him to another hobbyist... There is a pretty large demand for these guys, much more so than I would have imagined.

Of course, you could also make a mantis display tank of your own which is well worth the trouble as they are amazing to observe and have tons of personality. if I had been in a better place to do so that's exactly what I would have done but currently this was not an option for me.