Difficulty of keeping a Squilla empusa?

Mr. Manty · 11/13/2017, 11:16 AM

Is there any info on their care? I am able to obtain one.

Hadla · 11/13/2017, 11:58 AM

If you happen to successfully keep it, I’d love to see pics and read about it!

Bobbitworm13 · 12/03/2017, 10:30 PM

I would say keep the tank sub tropical temps, a really deep sand bed will be a must considering where these mantises are found. I would think reef tank params. If you aren't getting them from saltybottomreef, check them out. $22 and they have great customer service. Good luck and post pics when you get it

Gonodactylus · 12/15/2017, 11:07 AM

Squilla empusa occurs from Maine to the Caribbean and therefore populations experience many different temperatures. You need to consider where the animal is from and the time of year to keep them at the appropriate temperature. I have found that it is best to keep them at the lower end of the temperature scale. If you don't know what the water temperature is where and when the S empusa were collected 15 to 21 C is a good place to start.

S. empusa can't burrow in clean sand and they don't produce a lot of mucus like lysiosquillids which would allow them to stabilize burrow walls. They typically burrow in muddy substrates that have some texture. Given that it is difficult to create such conditions in the home aquarium I don't recommend keeping Squilla in a deep sand bed unless you have experience maintaining systems with a lot of organic material. Squilla will usually live in pvc burrows and this is probably the best burrow to provide them.

Squilla are not as long lived as gonodactylids and lysiosquillids generally survive only a year or two in the aquarium.

Diet should be varied. They will eat shrimp, crabs, pile worms and even thin shelled clams.

Roy

11/13/2017, 11:16 AM	#1
Mr. Manty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 194	Difficulty of keeping a Squilla empusa? Is there any info on their care? I am able to obtain one.

11/13/2017, 11:58 AM	#2
Hadla Mantis Whisperer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 574	If you happen to successfully keep it, I’d love to see pics and read about it! __________________ Aquarium count: 7 salt: 2x10g, 29 biocube, 30g, 55g, 75g, 225g, and one fresh 20g planted tank! Puffer, octopus, and mantis shrimp fanatic!

12/03/2017, 10:30 PM	#3
Bobbitworm13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Russell Springs, KY Posts: 330	I would say keep the tank sub tropical temps, a really deep sand bed will be a must considering where these mantises are found. I would think reef tank params. If you aren't getting them from saltybottomreef, check them out. $22 and they have great customer service. Good luck and post pics when you get it

12/15/2017, 11:07 AM	#4
Gonodactylus Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Posts: 5,024	Squilla empusa occurs from Maine to the Caribbean and therefore populations experience many different temperatures. You need to consider where the animal is from and the time of year to keep them at the appropriate temperature. I have found that it is best to keep them at the lower end of the temperature scale. If you don't know what the water temperature is where and when the S empusa were collected 15 to 21 C is a good place to start. S. empusa can't burrow in clean sand and they don't produce a lot of mucus like lysiosquillids which would allow them to stabilize burrow walls. They typically burrow in muddy substrates that have some texture. Given that it is difficult to create such conditions in the home aquarium I don't recommend keeping Squilla in a deep sand bed unless you have experience maintaining systems with a lot of organic material. Squilla will usually live in pvc burrows and this is probably the best burrow to provide them. Squilla are not as long lived as gonodactylids and lysiosquillids generally survive only a year or two in the aquarium. Diet should be varied. They will eat shrimp, crabs, pile worms and even thin shelled clams. Roy