Green Mantis help please

[fuzed]

I have a Smasher Green Mantis - I would like an ID.

A few questions.

Whats the best substrate for the green mantis?

What should I be feeding it?

And can it jump out of an uncovered tank? (as the little tanks above the main reef tank.

Thanks all for the responses.

[AttackDonut]

I've never seen a Mantis jump out of a tank. Mine ate anything I put in front of him, but he was esp. fond of snails.
I always had soft sand and live rock rubble, he would happily make his own burrow from there.

Without a real good photo of him, and esp. his tail and meral spots, proper ID is almost impossible.

[fuzed]

Thanks... I took some pictures last night, i'll get some sand in the tank with him and i've put a few dove snails in with him, as they seen to go mad in my tank - will try to feed him as well...


What would you suggest I feed the little begger?

[Gonodactylus]

To identify it, I would need to see a photo and also know where it is from. There are several species of smasher that are green or that have a green color morph. There is even one that is named for the color green, Gonodactylellus viridis from the Western Pacific.

As for jumping, they can occasionally jump, particularly when spooked. Most gonodactylids can only about a body length out of the warter, but some small Odontodactylus can clear 6 inches or more.

Roy

[fuzed]

cheers all - he's probably still in his little tank then :D

I'll get it covered anyways...

i'll upload a picture tonight.

[fuzed]

pic of him showing his little face out of the hidy hole :Dhttp://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/uploads/post-3-1092955265.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/uploads/post-3-1092955265.jpg

heres what I could get of his back end...

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/uploads/post-3-1092955401.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/uploads/post-3-1092955401.jpg

[fuzed]

bump, anyone able to ID, or do you need a better picture?

[H2OLUVSME]

looks cool where did you get him?

LT

[fuzed]

thanks, he was from a not so local lfs, they got him in as a hitch hiker on a montipora I think... obviously not wanting it to get into any of the liverock/corals they gave him away free...

He'd been living in my sump for almost 6 months - couldnt find him, now I have he has his own little 5 gallon on the bracing bar above the 5x2x2.

:D

[Gonodactylus]

N. wennerae I would guess without seeing the telson structure.

[fuzed]

I'll try an get a shot of him out of the tank, he's made a burrow now and doesnt seem to want to come out... yet...