Anyone interested in a 12" Mantis Shrimp?

[Troutman]

There is a good possibility that I can get some 12" Mantis shrimp into the country. I'm getting one for myself, but have never kept a mantis before. Could be interesting. Please let me know if you'd be interested in one. I'm still awaiting the shipping details and costs.

Thanks,
Troutman

[ADHybrid]

I'd PAY you a grip of money for a 12' mantis. The only problem is I live in California. Contact me CrazyPunkKid@hotmail.com or post back here first and we'll talk this over. THANX!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Troutman]

I'll keep you posted. If I get these things.....I'll have to know how many to order. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Troutman

[ADHybrid]

Do you know what type of Mantis it is?? I can do some research for us and find out what water conditions, food, etc. it needs. Is it a smasher or a spearer?

[Troutman]

I don't have many details on them yet. It is however, my understanding that they are smashers. I have a friend that imports discus from asia that is getting them. He has actually "eaten" them before while travelling over there. His contact there can't quite understand why he wants them shipped alive....LOL. He did mention that they are green if that helps.

Troutman

[Scotty]

DITTO everything ADhybrid said. I'd be VERY intersted in 12 inch mantis. I would first have thought they would be the big 'Tiger' Mantis from Hawaii, but they aint green nor are the smashers. I would LOVE to have a 12 inch green smasher. I must say, sounds like it might be a fish tale, I've been studying mantis for years now and I aint never hearda no green smasher species that big. Keep us posted.
Scott L.
Gilsboy63@aol.com

[Shia]

I am also very interested in a 12in. mantis, would you know what kind it is?

[Pandora]

Trout, I am also interested in going in with the others if you can get a couple. Just keep me in mind if and when you do (email or pm me)... thanks.

[Gonodactylus]

There is only one smasher that approaches 12 inches in length and that is Hemisquilla ensigera from Southern California. There are two other species of Hemisquilla, H. braziliiensis and H. australiensis. Both are smaller. The largest Hemisquilla I have seen was about 11 inches (28 cm) and that is plenty big. In southeast Asia the larget smasher is Odontodactylus scyllarus. The largest one I have seen was just under 20 cm, about 8 inches in length. I doubt that they get any larger than that. They are eaten, however, and I have seen plates piled high with several bright green O. s.

There are several spearers that reach or exceed 12" including several species of Lysiosquillina, Lysiosquilla, Harpiosquilla and Bathysquilla. The largest species I know of is Lysiosquillina that is reported to reach a size of around 40 cm - nearly 17 inches. The largest one I have collected was around 35 cm.

Roy

[word]

count me in for one, if you place an order. i live in wisconsin, so shipping should be pretty reasonable. ;)

[Alex]

I am interested. I live near Detroit and work at a pet store. I can drive to grand rapids to pick him up. How much are you asking for them? Please e-mail me with more info. I can even call you if you want.

e-mail me at algawura@hotmail.com

[newspaperpopcorn]

although i would be interested in such a creature i think it would cut my fingers off

[Troutman]

Originally posted by Scotty
I must say, sounds like it might be a fish tale, I've been studying mantis for years now and I aint never hearda no green smasher species that big. Keep us posted.
Scott L.
Gilsboy63@aol.com

Sorry things sound "fishy" to ya....but I honestly don't know a lot about mantis.....but have a good opp to get some. As I said above......."I understand that they are green"......that means I'm talking about a phone conversation with my supplier.....it doesn't mean that I have hard facts. I am also trying to share a resource with others at little or no cost to them.....so please...give me a little break here for not knowing the absolute specifics..

troutman

[newspaperpopcorn]

so what will the cost be for this gorilla?

[Gonodactylus]

There is green and then there is green. There is no smasher known to science that is a foot long and that is bright green like an Odontodactylus scyllarus. On the other hand, some large squilloids like Harpiosquilla can have a greenish cast to them with green markings on the denticles, teeth and ridges of the cuticle. If these animals are as big as the supplier says, then they are probably squilloids.

Roy

[newspaperpopcorn]

or maybe they are just lobsters with green spray paint

[Scotty]

Hey Troutman,
Didn't mean to imply that you're trying to pull the wool over, only that your supplier might be uninformed or exaggerating. His stats don't add up to any stomatopod in existence as Dr. Caldwell has also noted. Still be interested to know what he does have though, big mantis are awesome animals.
S

[Troutman]

Well.....we shall soon see! There are two coming in on Monday. I won't have mine until the end of the week. I'll be sure to post some pics of it. They have a long trip, so I hope they make it alive. And you're absolutely right, my supplier doesn't even have a marine tank. He's into discus, so doesn't know much about the shrimp. I hope the collectors didn't remove the spears/clubs from the mantis.

I'll keep you all posted.

Troutman

[ADHybrid]

Do I get the 2nd one?? (got dibs first) :D

[DreamScape]

maybe it was meant to be 12 cm?? :D

[Troutman]

Well....bad news.....both shrimp were DOA. Here's some pics of the smaller of the two....he was in the best shape. Can anyone tell me anything about this shrimp? They are almost totally lacking color now.

http://www.jeddsaquaboard.com/reef/shrimp/shrimp103.jpg
http://www.jeddsaquaboard.com/reef/shrimp/shrimp107.jpg
http://www.jeddsaquaboard.com/reef/shrimp/shrimp108.jpg
http://www.jeddsaquaboard.com/reef/shrimp/shrimp109.jpg
http://www.jeddsaquaboard.com/reef/shrimp/shrimp112.jpg

[DreamScape]

wow. thats too bad... any clue why they died?

i found some similar ones in a shop once... about 12-15cm long, but with blue ridges along its back and grey-white speckled eyes.

oh. and they were frozen (it was a seafood market :D )

that one in your photo is real pretty. :)
wouldn't have minded a couple.

[yabbie]

woh a live one would look awsom were they 12inches? :eek2:

[Pandora]

What a shame... such a beaut...

Where were they caught and is your supplier thinking of trying again?

[Gonodactylus]

As I suspected, they are Harpiosquilla, some of the largest of all the spearers and the largest members of the squilloid super family. Your supplier was correct, they do get up to a foot long and they do have green on them. However, the cream colored body is typical of the species. Only the denticles, spines, and meral spots are dark green. The characteristic that defines the genus are the erect spines on the inside of the propodus (second segment from the end) of the raptorial appendage.
In most other species of spearer, these spines fold down. When a fish or shrimp is speared by the barbed dactyl, it folds shut pinning the prey between the dactyl barbs and propodal spines.

I worked on these animals in the Gulf of Siam years ago. There they are frequently caught with shrimp and the reproductive females with well developed ovaries bring a fair price. The locals roast them on a stick causing the females fry in the fat from the ovaries.

They are not particularly hardy, but if you can get them through the shipping process, they should live for at least a year or so in an aquarium. They will need a dark burrow and not much coral or rock. Don't expect to see too much of them, however, because they are nocturnal. They can catch a lot of small feeder fish!

Roy