Mantis shrimp

[Mad About Cichlids]

I thinking if I was to ever get into saltwater fishes I want one of them. Will be in an acrylic tank for sure:D


Just wondering if anyone has any experience with them and how did you end up with it? I have never seen or heard of any for sell locally.

[chrisdef15]

Yeah what specifically did you want to know?? I got mine from a live rock shipment at the shop i work at.

[FishSkins]

they are monster to the tank for the most part... and some have very beautiful colors on them yet still a monster i feel it is best to try to get rid of them than keep one as they can cause many problems .many of them can and will eat any thing that moves

[ewurm]

My lfs has a monster. It's a mean bugger too.

[soulFish]

I overheard some guys talking about they had to tear down one of the monterey aquarium tanks due to a mantis that got into in from hitching a ride in the live rock. They said it kept killing the fish

[Mad About Cichlids]

Yeah what specifically did you want to know?? I got mine from a live rock shipment at the shop i work at.



I thinking if I was to ever get into saltwater fishes I want one of them. Will be in an acrylic tank for sure:D


Just wondering if anyone has any experience with them and how did you end up with it? I have never seen or heard of any for sell locally.



Where I can find one and how fun are they:ROFL:


Thanks for all responses, I'm going to check the local saltwater specialty shops around here see if they got any stoleaways.

[WyldFya]

Talk to your LFS, if they have glass tanks, expect to have to special order, and pickup upon arrival. The shop I worked for in Olympia had a couple while I was there. One was a hitchhiker on some LR, and it got to be nearly 12" long. This one actually blew out the side of a 100 gallon LR tank. We also had a 6" 'lotus' mantis shrimp. That was a cool one, but it did not survive the entire week.

[Hypancistrus]

I plan on setting up a "cube" tank in my bedroom for one of these sometime in the future. I watched an awesome video on You Tube of one eating a crab and have been fascinated ever since. :headbang2

I know that Dr. Foster & Smith's "Live Aquaria" sells them. But I imagine many local shops accidentally get them in from time to time- probably a matter of telling them you'd like one, and them keeping an eye out for you!

[RedDevilDon2005]

those things are insane, if i ever have a SW tank, i want that and only that in it.

[rottbo]

Hey i can help you out you live close to me........ I have owned them and can get them......

[rottbo]

here is a good website to ID them and pick one that you want. remember it is most likely that we can only get smashers spearers are very hard to get



http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/index.html#directory

[water_baby83]

I plan on setting up a "cube" tank in my bedroom for one of these sometime in the future. I watched an awesome video on You Tube of one eating a crab and have been fascinated ever since. :headbang2

I know that Dr. Foster & Smith's "Live Aquaria" sells them. But I imagine many local shops accidentally get them in from time to time- probably a matter of telling them you'd like one, and them keeping an eye out for you!


Yup. they are common hitch-hikers and there arent many who regularly request them, so more often than not they are justs pests. I personally hate the dang things, but thats probably because I've been pinched by one, drew blood, and I wanted to smash him!! (But I didn't, I just learned a few more 4 letter words)

[chrisdef15]

Sure it wasnt a crab or even a pistol shrimp?? Mantis dont pinch they whack down and outwards.

[rottbo]

Emily knows what she is talking about she just stated it wrong she is one of our resident zoologist... and finding them anymore in my area as hitchhilers is pretty rare since most of the rock we get has been aquacultered it sucks I mean we dont get any hitchhikers usually it use to be awesome to see what would appear over the first year or so

[water_baby83]

well it was a spearer if you want to get technical, but I don't care what you prefer to call it - spear, slice, stab, whack, pinch, punch - whatever it hurt like hell and tore my finger open. I avoid them like a plague now. And yes I am sure, it was not a pistol or crab.

[chrisdef15]

yeah im sure you know what your talking about it was just when you said pinch my mind instantly thought crab not mantis.

[rottbo]

REALLY a spearer can you hook me up with one EM???? I have never been able to get a spearer only smashers......

[Mad About Cichlids]

Thanks for replies and the awesome link.


Well I made a trip to almost all the LFS around here and I was able to find two different types of Mantis shrimp:drool:

First one I found look very similar to this one, only thing was they wanted 150 for it:cry:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/species.php?name=l_maculata



second one looks very much like this one, probably going to pick it up, it's beautiful and cheaper too:drool:
http://www.numa.com.au/gallery/photos/mantis%20shrimp.jpg

[water_baby83]

REALLY a spearer can you hook me up with one EM???? I have never been able to get a spearer only smashers......

LOL sure I suppose, but did you not here me - - wicked little buttheads!! Grr! LOL

[water_baby83]

second one looks very much like this one, probably going to pick it up, it's beautiful and cheaper too:drool:
http://www.numa.com.au/gallery/photos/mantis%20shrimp.jpg
EVIL EVIL EVIL!!! LOL :irked: :irked:

[rottbo]

LOL sure I suppose, but did you not here me - - wicked little buttheads!! Grr! LOL

yeah I heard ya I never put my hand into my old tank and I definately wouldnt put my hand in near a spearer.. I just have never been able to find an actual spearer and I would love to own one to see the difference in hunting with my own eyes......

[water_baby83]

yeah I heard ya I never put my hand into my old tank and I definately wouldnt put my hand in near a spearer.. I just have never been able to find an actual spearer and I would love to own one to see the difference in hunting with my own eyes......
LOL okkaaaa, well let me know when and I will see what I can do for ya.

[Oddball]

For anyone interested, there's a great article on mantis shrimp in the April 2007 FAMA.