The Official R2R Mantis Shrimp Thread!

ritter6788 · Jan 14, 2014

FX2screw said:
Hello everyone first post for me. Let me say awesome forum. I finally found out what my hitchhiker is called but not sure if it is safe to keep or get rid of. Can someone shine alittle light on this?

Thank you,

Live Rock Hitchhiker " Smasher mantis " - YouTube

Nice mantis! Is it N. oerstedii?

Depends on what you want to keep with it. Crabs, hermits, snails and such are dinner for sure. Fish may be ok but it's always a risk. That puffer and the mantis likely won't end well one way or another.

Davesgt · Jan 14, 2014

My little buddy that ive named Marty! So far hes been eating freeze dried krill and the occasional hermits.

ritter6788 · Jan 14, 2014

Very nice!

Davesgt · Jan 14, 2014

Hes got a large personality! A lot more active then my last Peacock.

FX2screw · Jan 23, 2014

If anyone wants it. Feel free to take him or her. Let me know. Do like the popping sound. And have fish that we actually like.

kth132 · Jan 23, 2014

Heres mine

kth132 · Jan 23, 2014

And a few pics of the build. Hes in a 12g now the 36g should be ready in a few days.

skinz78 · Mar 19, 2014

Great looking shrimps everyone, keep them coming!

Islandoftiki · Mar 20, 2014

Learn more about this beautiful little girl named Betty and other stomatopods at Betty's Facebook page devoted to learning about mantis shrimp! https://www.facebook.com/bettystomatopod

rhcpnut1 · Mar 20, 2014

Haha did you create one john just to share pics of Betty?

Postal · Mar 20, 2014

Here is a pic I took a few years ago of a local reefers peacock.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/postal33610/IMGP6282.jpg

Postal · Mar 20, 2014

Let's try that again...

Islandoftiki · Mar 20, 2014

rhcpnut1 said:
Haha did you create one john just to share pics of Betty?

Haha, well, kinda, but really I'm working on writing a lot of educational posts on her page. That's the main focus. I'm going to try to post at least one new fact or interesting article about stomatopods every day or two.

Mattyice008 · Mar 20, 2014

Sadly, my peacock mantis Henry died after 2 1/2 years. Unknown reason of death. He was moving, and then 15 minutes later he was dead. Bad molt is the only thing I can think of. I work at petco and the $/gal sale starts march 30. I'm getting a 20h and buying a little baby mantis from the LFS. Not sure what kind he is, all green with some purple.

sexycorals · Mar 20, 2014

i love mine also.. he plays with me like a dog

Mattyice008 · Mar 20, 2014

If anyone is interested in getting more info on stomatpods, I find this a while back. Best site for identifying stomatopods and learning. The author's name is Roy Caldwell. I actually emailed him a while back and he responded. I remember asking him about lights and burrow sizes with peacock mantis shrimps. He said there is no case of bright light (LEDs/bright t5's) affecting O. Scyllarus and giving them shell rot at SMALL sizes, but as they get bigger (around 5-6 inches) there are multiple cases of this bright light being a factor in the death of O. Scyllarus species. Also, if you use PVC for a burrow, I remember him saying that they will only use it if it's at least 1.5x the diameter of the mantis' body, and at least 4x the length.

When I had my peacocks, I did an experiment where I switched the t-8 fixtures with marineland LED fixtures. After the switch, the mantis shrimps wouldn't come out at all until night time, even to eat. I changed the lights back after a week, and they resumed normal behavior and cruised around all day and night. This was only for O. Scyllarus.

Hope this helps some people! I cant wait to get my new baby mantis!