New aquascape/mantis pics [large pics]

[bpm2000]

Here's my recently re-arranged rockwork plus new inhabitant.

sorry bout the reflection:

mantis

close-up

 

[NaH2O]

Very Cool!!

 

[Al G.]

Nice looking aquascaping. My mantis would very be envious of that tank.

 

[mojoreef]

Loiking good buddy, love the shrim shots


Mike

 

[Curtswearing]

Better watch out.

On that third shot, your mantis is thinking I bet I can break this tank and that darned camera lense at the same time.

 

[bpm2000]

hehe it was the only time I've seen it do the defensive posture, had to get a good snap of the telsons while I had the chance. It struck my feeding stick a good number of times and its a pretty solid whack - I really hope it leaves the glass alone!

 

[Curtswearing]

I was just teasing about the broken glass. I don't want to worry you unnecessarily. It's only an issue with one or two species. Do you know what species it is. I can't tell from the front.

Do you have any pics where it isn't in its meral spread? A side shot would be awesome.

It doesn't look like an O.s. from the front so I am curious. Maybe a G. platysoma?

 

[Abissus]

It is so pretty. How do one go about getting ahold of a mantis shrimp?

 

[Curtswearing]

Abissus,

Mantis shrimp aren't really shrimp at all....they are stomatopods.

IMO, mantis shrimp are absolutely fascinating. However, they need a dedicated nano tank unless you are rich and can afford to keep replacing clean-up crews. They are one of the most efficient predators in the world. I doubt if you had one in your reef tank, you would care too much about their prettiness. One by one, it would kill and eat each and every single shrimp, then snail and then eventually all of your fish in your tank too unless you kept it WELL fed.

Their eyesight is better than an eagle...with one eye they can not only obtain depth of field, they can see in wavelengths we can't. Their intelligence greatly exceeds most reef inhabitants (with the exception of octupi). Most reef inhabitants merely operate on stimulus/response. Stomatopods don't operate that way....they are cunning and quite intelligent.

Before I tell you how to get one, I want you to read these links.

Lurkers Gallery

Secrets of the Stomatopod

 

[Abissus]

Yes, I have read about Mantis and understand it needs its own tank Seems like what I read about those Mantis sites the only thing they don't mention is how to obtain one

I am just curious as to where to get one. Not going to do it right away, just want to find out availability and price before I setup anything for it. Only places I have seen them are mail order (like saitwaterfish.com), and is not even always available, more like a wish list item.

Thanks

 

[bpm2000]

I havnt been able to get a clear sideshot yet. Dr Roy @ Reefcentral thinks it may be a Neogonodactylus wennerae or N. bredini. It probably is - it came out of Florida rock. I'll get a better pic soon.

Abissus, if you don't want a larger specialty variety, people get them all the time in Florida aquacultured liverock (Tampa Bay Saltwater especially). They come as hitchhikers and people often give them away, which is how I got mine.

 

[Montanarocknreefer]

Very nice mantis shrimp! Here is my female Peacock mantis shrimp! They are unbelieveable predators and awesome to have.

 

[Montanarocknreefer]

Guess I should show the Peacock mantis shrimp! lol

 

[bpm2000]

sweet peacock! i woulda picked one up had they not been so pricey online...

I got a couple more pics of the smashers for those who want to ID for sure.. forgot to load the telson pics, ill post later.

 

[Schottman]

Very interesting creature ....these mantis shrimps. here people collecting when most people want to get rid of them hehehehe

 

[Curtswearing]

BPM,

Thanks for the closeup. I think you have a female Wennerae there. It has the meral spot and it has the typical coloration on the clubs. The fact that it came out of Florida live rock makes me think so even more. BTW...here's a cool fact about Wennerae. They change colors depending on what they think will be most beneficial to them. If you change the spectrum on your lighting, after the next molt, it will likely change colors.

Abissus,

BPM told you how he got his which is a good way....free.

There are other ways. Have your LFS contact his suppliers for a special order (which tends to be expensive). There are several online vendors who sell them as well...swf, liveaquaria, fishsupply, and tpaquarium.

 

[Abissus]

Thanks. I'll keep it in mind when I do decide to do that in the future My wish list is getting longer and longer

 

[Montanarocknreefer]

Great close-ups of your mantis!

Here is another pic of mine:

 

[MtnDewMan]

Went on a tank tour a couple of years ago and a local fishkeeper had some mantis shrimp. Here are a couple of pictures I took of her shrimp ... amazing creatures and very scarey looking at the same time ...

 

[Schottman]

Awesome.........so beautiful and kewl looking yet so unsafe for a reef where they look natural in