Pair of Mantis - how long will it last?

alprazo · 01/06/2018, 10:16 AM

I added a female mantis to my male. First separated in the same tank and about a week ago I let her free. Initially, they avoided each other but by the next morning, they were sharing a burrow. It has been a week. They have created two burrows but 90% of the time they are together in the same one. I have seen zero aggression thus far. The species is Gonodactylus chiragra.

Will they continue to cohabitate or will I end up finding one or both dead from fighting?

Thanks for input/advice.

Hadla · 01/06/2018, 10:44 AM

Wow that is cool... can you post a few pics of them together? Sorry I can’t help but I think one would eventually kill the other

alprazo · 01/06/2018, 08:16 PM

I'll take another shot when they move to the live rock burrow.

alprazo · 01/07/2018, 08:18 PM

Hadla · 01/08/2018, 08:19 AM

It’s so interesting to watch! Thanks ��

Gonodactylus · 01/08/2018, 11:34 AM

Gonodactylus chiragra is a species that has a mate-guarding breeding system. When the female is ready to lay eggs she will occupy a cavity with a male who defends the cavity - particularly against other males. The cohabitation can last for a week or more until the female lays her eggs. A that point the male leaves. If he doesn't, the female may become aggressive an attempt to force him out. Non-reproductive females will not pair with a male..

One interesting feature of this mating system is that males remember females with whom they have paired and will not try to evict them from a cavity for about a month. This is how long the female will be brooding eggs fathered by the male.

Roy

Hadla · 01/08/2018, 11:53 PM

That is so cool! I just might have to get a male to try it out and have another tank set up for him

alprazo · 01/14/2018, 09:38 AM

Roy, I really appreciate your input. Thanks.

An update - it has been two weeks now, they remain together in the main cavity. During the day, I will occasionally find the female in the second cavity. Once the lights go out, they end up back together. No aggression witnessed thus far.

alprazo · 02/19/2018, 04:30 PM

6 weeks and the two are still going strong. Looks like they will survive the honeymoon.

01/06/2018, 10:16 AM	#1
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	Pair of Mantis - how long will it last? I added a female mantis to my male. First separated in the same tank and about a week ago I let her free. Initially, they avoided each other but by the next morning, they were sharing a burrow. It has been a week. They have created two burrows but 90% of the time they are together in the same one. I have seen zero aggression thus far. The species is Gonodactylus chiragra. Will they continue to cohabitate or will I end up finding one or both dead from fighting? Thanks for input/advice. __________________ NOT Moved on.

01/06/2018, 10:44 AM	#2
Hadla Mantis Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 574	Wow that is cool... can you post a few pics of them together? Sorry I can’t help but I think one would eventually kill the other __________________ Aquarium count: 7 salt: 2x10g, 29 biocube, 30g, 55g, 75g, 225g, and one fresh 20g planted tank! Puffer, octopus, and mantis shrimp fanatic!

01/06/2018, 08:16 PM	#3
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	I'll take another shot when they move to the live rock burrow. __________________ NOT Moved on.

01/07/2018, 08:18 PM	#4
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	__________________ NOT Moved on.

01/08/2018, 08:19 AM	#5
Hadla Mantis Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 574	It’s so interesting to watch! Thanks �� __________________ Aquarium count: 7 salt: 2x10g, 29 biocube, 30g, 55g, 75g, 225g, and one fresh 20g planted tank! Puffer, octopus, and mantis shrimp fanatic!

01/08/2018, 11:34 AM	#6
Gonodactylus Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Posts: 5,024	Gonodactylus chiragra is a species that has a mate-guarding breeding system. When the female is ready to lay eggs she will occupy a cavity with a male who defends the cavity - particularly against other males. The cohabitation can last for a week or more until the female lays her eggs. A that point the male leaves. If he doesn't, the female may become aggressive an attempt to force him out. Non-reproductive females will not pair with a male.. One interesting feature of this mating system is that males remember females with whom they have paired and will not try to evict them from a cavity for about a month. This is how long the female will be brooding eggs fathered by the male. Roy

01/08/2018, 11:53 PM	#7
Hadla Mantis Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 574	That is so cool! I just might have to get a male to try it out and have another tank set up for him __________________ Aquarium count: 7 salt: 2x10g, 29 biocube, 30g, 55g, 75g, 225g, and one fresh 20g planted tank! Puffer, octopus, and mantis shrimp fanatic!

01/14/2018, 09:38 AM	#8
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	Roy, I really appreciate your input. Thanks. An update - it has been two weeks now, they remain together in the main cavity. During the day, I will occasionally find the female in the second cavity. Once the lights go out, they end up back together. No aggression witnessed thus far. __________________ NOT Moved on.

02/19/2018, 04:30 PM	#9
alprazo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,695 Blog Entries: 4	6 weeks and the two are still going strong. Looks like they will survive the honeymoon. __________________ NOT Moved on.