Mantis ? Id

[br1anm]

http://www.ultimatereef.net/photopost/data/500/109Shrimp.jpg
had to move rock around a bit and this guy fell out, ive seen him a couple of times before, thinking this is a mantis shrimp, any idea or info on this type
thanks
brian

[Mikey]

I would need a picture of the meral spots, which are the coloured "blobs" on the elbow of the striking apendages.

Or at least a description of the colours. and maybe a closer shot of the telson, or tail.

Cheers,

[Manta]

Def a Mantis, dunno which species though.

[br1anm]

thanks for the reply, i just have the one shot of this as i thought its just another interesting piece of life in the tank and put it straight back in!
have trimmed the original pic without altering res so maybe this will be a bit more clear - otherwise i will wait until i see it next.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/photopost/data/500/109IMG_0040.jpg

[Mikey]

Excellent job.

Nearly 100% this is a species of mantis called Gonodactylus Smithii.

I can just make out the meral spots on that close up. Did you notice to red dots either side of the tail spikes?

[Mikey]

Have saw your post on RC too, and dont listen to that reply - it aint a Peacock mantis.

I have kept this type (G Smithii) before and they are great little characters.

If you beleive all the hype then you have just returned a viscious predator back to your tank that will kill fish and crustaceans.

In reality, it's a little bit different. G Smithii maxes out at about 8cm, and there is no potential for this mantis to smash aquariums. Maybe if it was made out of thin picture glass it could chip it.. :lol:

They are not fish eaters, but do, I have to say, predate on what would be your clean up crew.

If you have any smaller hermits or snails (cerith etc) then they would eat those, they struggle with turbo shells though, however they can and will persist and win eventually.

If this concerns you, the best thing to do would be to get him out, and place in a species tank, or sell/give him to someone else who wants a mantis to keep.

If you can accept this, the best thing to do would be to find out where he's living and offer food maybe twice a week on a stick. Anything meaty will do really. This will keep his appetite down and should minimize losses.

A very colourful, fun character of a mantis, and wish I had him!!

[br1anm]

Thanks a lot Mikey, i have a fair idea of where about he lives and will try to offer food and see how it goes with the clean up crew.
brian