Mantis ID??

fareforce · #1 10/30/2005, 06:09 PM

Can anyone id what type of mantis this is? How big he will get? Can he break my tank? Do I need to get rid of him? So Many Questions!

His tail is translucent red, but the tips of his back fins (talons?) are blue. I will try to get more pics..

What is the best way to remove him? I tried the "homemade mantis trap" last night, but didn't work.. I will try again tonight.

narow37 · #2 10/30/2005, 06:35 PM

cant really tell from the picture, looks like the bottom of it, but from the color it might be a peacock.

Hutton · #3 10/30/2005, 09:21 PM

no it is not a peakock. it is maybe a g smithii that was kept in lower lighting. when they are found at lower depths they are red.

fareforce · #4 10/30/2005, 09:26 PM

I dont think that he is a peacock, as he has no green on him.. His whole body is red.. the only thing that is a different color are his tail fins, which are blue.. I will try to get more pics..

Hutton · #5 10/30/2005, 09:44 PM

are his meral spots purple with a white ring around the purple?

fareforce · #6 10/30/2005, 11:49 PM

meral spots? where are those?

Hutton · #7 10/31/2005, 12:07 AM

on the iner sides of his clubs

fareforce · #8 10/31/2005, 12:12 AM

I will try to figure out the color, and get a picture tonight.. Are these guys more active at night or during the day? Mine seems to go 24x7..

goblinsharkman · #9 11/01/2005, 10:48 AM

i dont think its an Odontodactlyid, how big is it?

looks more like a Neogonodactlyid or gonodactlyid, where did you get him from? (pacific rock/ atlantic rock?)

fareforce · #10 11/01/2005, 03:43 PM

It was TBS gulf rock. He is about 2" long. His body is more of a maroon color, and a red head.. I can't see any meral spots on him, but I will keep looking. He has not ate any of my crabs or snails yet, he just goes around clicking, and burrowing out my rock.

I bought a comercial mantis trap to try to catch him.. We will see how it goes..

I am mainly worried about this guy breaking my tank.. Will he be able to?

rwhhunt · #11 11/02/2005, 09:00 AM

kinda looks like my wennerea

Hutton · #12 11/02/2005, 02:44 PM

no he wont if he is a small species. i have never heard of a wennerea or a smithii or any small species breaking glass. if its a 20 gallon a peackock( biggest smasher) would have trouble breaking glass.

fareforce · #13 11/02/2005, 03:59 PM

It's in a 55 gal tank.. This weekend the rock is coming out and I am squirting the hole with soda water.. What do I do with him once he is out? I have no use for him, but dont want to kill him (he is kinda cute).

ERICinFL · #14 11/05/2005, 12:44 AM

See if your LFS will trade you for something you want.

rwhhunt · #15 11/05/2005, 03:22 AM

go buy a little $50 5-10 gallon set up for him, I promise he will be your new favorite pet!

Uriel · #16 11/05/2005, 08:18 AM

Seriously, as rwhunt said, set him up.

A little Eclipse tank (or similar), some live rock rubble and an inch or two of sand, some leftover coral frags etc...and you have a mini-reef for an incredibly interesting animal.

Plus...when you get other undesireable hitch-hikers (Gorilla Crabs, coral eating snails...for instance), he will happily slay they for you.
My LFS saves me any unwanted gorillas or above-mentioned snails...for one of my 8 mantis shrimp.

They really are great pets.

-Ron

Hutton · #17 11/05/2005, 03:52 PM

i agree with Uriel and rwhhunt. they make awsome pets. its cool to see them decorate thier homes with hsells and lr rubble.

fareforce · #18 11/05/2005, 04:16 PM

I think I might set him up with a little eclipse5 tank.. That's a good idea!.. I finially caught him! Here is a new pic!

What kind is he?

liverock · #19 11/07/2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fareforce
I think I might set him up with a little eclipse5 tank.. That's a good idea!.. I finially caught him! Here is a new pic!

What kind is he?

wennera