my new Pseudosquilla ciliata

05Xrunner · #1 03/10/2007, 04:27 PM

Well I got a Mantis today...I finally figured out what species it is and see that its a spearer. Not a smasher.

Its pretty cool to watch it move around the tank and carry the large amounts of sand making his den. It seems to be making a few holes.

Thurge · #2 03/10/2007, 04:55 PM

That is one gorgeous mantis.

05Xrunner · #3 03/10/2007, 04:57 PM

thanks...After finding out its a spear type. I am wondering if it can eat the hermit crab and snail...I guess I will go get some small damsels for it

rudyistaken · #4 03/10/2007, 04:58 PM

Coolest mantis to own in my opinion. Most beligerant and withoug a care species. Beatiful as well.

05Xrunner · #5 03/10/2007, 05:04 PM

Oh yea..The LFS had it labeled as Lime mantis..so its name is Corona

Gonodactylus · #6 03/10/2007, 06:32 PM

Don't expect it to remain this color pattern for too long. On the white sand and light rock, it will lose the green and may also lose the stripe. If you want it to stay this color pattern, you could put in some green plants - or at least green plastic eelgrass. It is the vertical green striping of the plants above white sand that produces this green stripe pattern.

Roy

05Xrunner · #7 03/10/2007, 06:35 PM

I have some fake green plants...Should I put them in there to help keep its color.

deboM3 · #8 03/10/2007, 07:49 PM

My P. Ciliata ate a huge hermit that was in its tank. It also will stalk damsels and eat them too. Beautiful mantis btw

Dan Thrash · #9 03/10/2007, 07:56 PM

it doesnt look like he has enough sand to make a few holes...shouldnt you have a few more inches for it to burrow?

05Xrunner · #10 03/10/2007, 08:01 PM

it made a few nice holes under the rocks on each side of the tank..and it goes completely under that...and sticks its head out every so often.

Uriel · #11 03/10/2007, 08:18 PM

Mine started out looking like that. Now one is almost black (Well, grey/green, very dark, and the other is really light colored, almost exactly like the sand).

I have had several hermits 'go missing', as well as observing both of my P cilata eat fiddlers, wrestling them down and stabbing them 'prison shank style', from behind and underneath.

Other than my mutant outgoing G platysoma, my P cilata are my most active mantis.

-Uriel

05Xrunner · #12 03/10/2007, 08:39 PM

I put a bunch of green fake plants in there to try and help keep it the color it is

justinl · #13 03/10/2007, 09:46 PM

cool, let us know if the plants make it keep the sweet colouring after it molts.

05Xrunner · #14 03/10/2007, 09:57 PM

yea i will...I dont want it to lose this coloring...it looks soo nice
here is the tank now...hope these greens help keep the color

andromedia226 · #15 03/10/2007, 11:59 PM

Gorgeous!

justinl · #16 03/11/2007, 12:57 AM

to be honest, im really not a fan of the fake (or "faux", whatever you wanna call it) plants, but your set up looks really nice with it.

05Xrunner · #17 03/11/2007, 10:52 AM

well the only reason I am puting the plants in ther is to try and help keep the mantis that nice green color.

Pea-brain · #18 03/11/2007, 03:14 PM

It does look nice. IMO a tank isnt complete without live plants though. They are like half of the natural ecosystem after all. Assuming that you have adequate lighting you could pick up a shaving brush plant from etropicals.com It is a nice looking vertical plant. And assuming you are using a good salt mix and have good lights (mine are probably good enough. 15$ 18 inch 50/50 bulbs) They should be fine. and at 4$ a piece, it sounds like a good Idea to me.

aninjaatemyshoe · #19 03/11/2007, 04:00 PM

The thing I'm wondering is if you can't keep snails alive in there, then how are you going to keep the plants green? You'd have to wash them off frequently. Kinda would be a pain IMO.

Beautiful Mantis by the way. I have a peacock and it hardly ever comes out of its hidey-hole. Maybe the next one I get will be a p. ciliata.

aninjaatemyshoe · #20 03/11/2007, 04:02 PM

You could use a printed background, the kind that have freshwater plants on them. I think that might be easier to upkeep. All you'd have to do is keep the back panel clean.

fishome25 · #21 03/16/2007, 05:51 PM

mine is bright yellow and has stayed yellow. but there is nothing yellow in my tank. whats the deal, lol?

Gonodactylus · #22 03/16/2007, 06:00 PM

If you go to where P. ciliata are collected, there is almost nothing yellow except for some of the mobile animals and the occasional sponge. In my experience, yellow P. cilata come from complex, multi-colored habitats. It is usually easy for them to dive for cover. On the other hand, if they need to be visible to attract mates, matching colors won't work very well. I think yellow serves for advertisement. The green colored P. ciliata are often from grass beds where camouflage is is probably more important.
Just a guess, but it generally fits with what I've seen in the field.

Roy