Mantis ID

[jpsika08]

Hi, today I bought this Mantis, he was caught in the Caribbean, can someone help me ID him? thanks.

[Kharn]

WoW that is an interesting looking mantis o_O

It looks similar to Cloridopsis...

Can you say what kind of substrate you found it in / where you found it geographically ?

REALLY REALLY nice find something I can only hope to find myself!

[Kharn]

The Telson shares an extremely similar shape to Cloridopsis....but as to what species exactly I am not sure as information on Cloridopsis isn't as public as many other species.

The colors are very nice I'm green with envy =D

[Kharn]

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthrop...p?name=c_dubia

Not same species but in its family which could give a clue as to how best to care for it, one of the more 'needy' species unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it).

Personally I am now at the point where I would prefer to get the more 'needy' species as they tend to require abnormal things....

Look up 'Eel Freak' and his C.dubia thread on this sub forum it should show you what he did for his Cloridopsis.

[Kharn]

double post

[jpsika08]

Thanks Kharn, I didn't asked the diver but as I know where he usually dives is on the coast of Belize, most of this area has white sugar sand, when I received it I didn't see too much fight in him, hopefully he is just recovering from the trip.

This is a shot of the Mantis Lair, it's an 85 gal tank, I placed a divider in the middle as in the Left area is my Peacock mantis, this tank is hooked up to my overall system.


Here is my Peacock:

[jpsika08]

From the link you posted, he looks similar, though this guys colors are very bright red, here is shot from above with a ruler for size info:

[Kharn]

Most stomatpods are highly color changing even though they are the same species, I am not saying yours is a C.dubia but I am saying its a Cloridopsis as there are other features that you can look at to determine the species, one being the telson.

two things concern me slightly...although I have never kept one of these species so I cannot comment on personal experiences...

Firstly I don't think there is enough substrate in the tank to support the spearers digging/burrowing needs...

Secondly I have only heard of these being kept with Mud not actual sand...

Whether or not the above will affect the stomatopod I do not know but I do know that I always provide everything there recommended to have just to make the animal as happy as possible hence live for as long as possible and provide back to me as much entertainment as possible.

Your going to need to hear from someone that has directly kept this species before as to whether or not you will be able to house it in what you have planned, personally I would never keep a peacock beside something permanently, there very aggressive and extremely adept at smashing things...

I wouldn't be too worried that it hasn't got much fight in it, I have never opened up a box in the mail containing a mantis and have it flipping all over the place acting all 'excited' on the contrary if it were to do that I would be more concerned for its health.

[jpsika08]

Thanks Kharn, I will try to gather as much information as possible from the diver and try to log where he caught it, the surroundings he was in.

Do you think it's possible for the Peacock to go into the other section? I can always place an acrylic divider too so they won't even see each other.

As it's a spearer food type is different as the smasher, what should I feed him?

Thank you again for your wealth of information.

[Bluemon]

That is really pretty.

[jpsika08]

Originally Posted by Bluemon

That is really pretty.

Thank you

[jpsika08]

Kharn,
Just spoke with the diver and you're right, it came from the pacific side, it was caught in a canal which is connected to the ocean and full of mud.

What do you recommend? should I try to remove him from here and re-prepare the tank for him?

thanks

[Kharn]

Originally Posted by jpsika08

Thanks Kharn, I will try to gather as much information as possible from the diver and try to log where he caught it, the surroundings he was in.

Do you think it's possible for the Peacock to go into the other section? I can always place an acrylic divider too so they won't even see each other.

As it's a spearer food type is different as the smasher, what should I feed him?

Thank you again for your wealth of information.

Your best bet is to ask the diver where he/she collected it from this tends to be a very shallow water species so It should be interesting what he gets back to you. (If all Cloridopsis reside around the 5m depth range that is...).

I just don't think its wise to keep a peacock with anything in the same tank there well developed smashers tend to be able to penetrate things where other stomatopods wouldn't...they may not see each other but they can smell/taste/sense each other.

As far as food goes just because its a spearer doesn't mean it can't eat the same food as a smasher...these creatures are called 'Prawn Assassins' down here by local fishermen because (irregardless of spearer or smasher) there notorious for killing prawns that are part of the catch (the mantis being the bi catch).

I fed my stomatopods last night both species prawn flesh on a skewer, you just cannot expect a spearer to 'attack' a snail (or any really hard bodied prey) like a smasher would.

They can eat a massive diverse range of foods, so long as its 'plain' or has no additives like flavors/ spieces/ herbs etc etc.

Typically I keep 3 bags of frozen raw seafood, a bag of prawns, a bag of octopus & a bag of mussels (think you call them clams).

Live food is offered regularly to keep them on there toes

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Rite now though you need to get incontact with either the diver or someone more knowledgeable on Cloridopsis'.....because I do know that some mantis need there certain substrates due to having extra delicate undersides and the rougher substrates can damage there undersides hence leading to death.

Your a lucky bugga =) if one of my collectors called me and sent me a pic of that mantis my response would of been...

"name your price!"

[jpsika08]

Thank you very much Kharn.
I will figure it out somehow and see how I can really separate this tank.
If in any case I consider it's harder to try accommodate him, some way or another I will try and release him in the ocean again (1 hour drive from the city).
I'll find out about the depth he was caught in, he did mention that this species like really low light.

You would laugh at the asking price of this guy for the Mantis ... $ 10 bucks. lol

[Kharn]

Originally Posted by jpsika08

Thank you very much Kharn.
I will figure it out somehow and see how I can really separate this tank.
If in any case I consider it's harder to try accommodate him, some way or another I will try and release him in the ocean again (1 hour drive from the city).
I'll find out about the depth he was caught in, he did mention that this species like really low light.

You would laugh at the asking price of this guy for the Mantis ... $ 10 bucks. lol

I'm not surprised about the asking price =)

I got a 4inch peacock from a store for $310 inc freight.....

I got a 7inch peacock off a private collector mate whom said I could have it for free but I gave him $60 anyway...

Go figure....

I do not want to discourage you from keeping this mantis but at the same time I do not want you (or anyone really) to 'half arse it' (not trying to pick on you lol) so the mantis suffers...

The choice is yours but you need to realize its a 'special' mantis with 'special' needs (which you have) and now act accordingly.

As far as it liking low light levels well I do not know about that sounds strange for a species in such a shallow environment hence always have bright light around it...

I'm not sure how releasing it would go....any stomatopod (specially spearers) that don't have a burrow/cavity are in dire danger of being eaten by a predator like a passing larger fish etc.

A mantis is most vulnerable when exposed...most larger species (to knowledge) are not the best swimmers either making them look like even more of targets! Take L.maculata when they swim about there often bumping into things and just generally sluggish, the perfect snack for a passing fish.

What are you going to do ?

[Gonodactylus]

Interesting. I've never seen anything like it.

Roy

[TundraGuy]

What a new one for the Doc? Ship it to the doc. He'll get more info about it then any of us might be able to.

[Steve C]

Wow. Looking at that I would be doing everything I could to keep it.

[Kharn]

I am still confident that it is of the Cloridopsis family there are extremely similarities.

[mndfreeze]

I second the ship to Dr. Caldwell suggestion.

[Kharn]

I am sure that the good Dr. could easily acquire his own given specific information as to where it was captured, further up it was stated that it was found in very shallow water which should make for an even more easy find.

At the size its at, with the colors it possess to me it would be like a fluro light among the muddy environment where its found.

[Kharn]

I am sure that the good Dr. could easily acquire his own given specific information as to where it was captured, further up it was stated that it was found in very shallow water which should make for an even more easy find.

At the size its at, with the colors it possess to me it would be like a fluro light among the muddy environment where its found.

[MantisO_o]

Originally Posted by Gonodactylus

Interesting. I've never seen anything like it.

Roy

:::: Shock face ::::

Its glorious looking!

[united417]

Originally Posted by MantisO_o

:::: Shock face ::::

Its glorious looking!

2nd that!what an incredible looking species

[jpsika08]

Thank you everyone, I have been in contact with the diver that brought me the Mantis.

Apparently he indeed came from a muddy substrate and shallow water from near the canal where he was taken from, on the Pacific side (Coast of Guatemala, Central America which is where I live).

Since last couple of days he has been eagerly trying to go into the Peacock's side, I don't want him to succeed as he will for sure get smashed.

This is my plan for him, a friend of mine has a nice big Fuge on the outside of his house, it's connected to a 800 gallons system.
1. The substrate here is made of mud from the same canal where the mantis was taken from.
2. It's full of Mangrove so many hiding places where he can hide.
3. It's under natural sunlight so probably he will feel more like home.
4. No other animals in there, no problem of being killed or kill something.

Even it's a "Rare" mantis and I like him a lot I've got to think first on his well being rather than my entertainment, tomorrow he will go into his new home.

I will ask my friend to keep updating me on more info so I can post it here in case it's worth it.

Thank you all.