Mantis shrimp

[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/arthro.../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.

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

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

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...costraca/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

 

[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

EVIL EVIL EVIL!!! LOL