Mantis id please :)

[Hadla]

It's at a store in southern Louisiana and I'm only here till Saturday morning so I'm hoping someone responds before then lol! :)

[Gonodactylus]

Definitely a squillid. It looks to me to be Squilla rugosa. This species is not as commonly found for sale as Squilla empusa but it does occur throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Roy

[Hadla]

So it's definitely not an empusa? I was worried it was lol, now to see about getting him home with me heh

[Gonodactylus]

I can't say for sure what it is since I can't see all of the traits that are used to identify species of Squilla. However, S. empusa has antennal scales that are yellow in the distal half. S. rugosa has this yellow coloration, but the distal tip of the scale is black. see attached photo

Roy

[Hadla]

Thanks :) if I can get to the store, I'll get a better pic

[Hadla]

They said it's about 5-6 inches... which goes over the 125mm size on the rugosa page... is that something to worry about?

[Hadla]

Ok there's two that they have: here's one

[Hadla]

And the slightly bigger one

[Hadla]

The first pic I posted must be the smaller one who should be a rugosa. The other could be either...

[Bobbitworm13]

The bigger one looks like empusa because of the lack of the black back

[Hadla]

Yeah, exactly what I thought! His antenna things are also all yellow

[Kharn]

I've always personally shy'd away from squillids on the basis that many have certain requirements due to delicate natures such as mud substrates due to delicate undersides.

I've had 7 and all 7 died.

I also found that they are not as "impressive" as other spearers like Lysiosquillids or Pseudosquillids.

[Hadla]

Thought I'd make a few pvc burrows for it in sand... but it looks like I won't be able to get to the store to get him:(

And he's only $15! All mantis shrimp I see in Sacramento are twice that or more :/