Peacock Mantis molt pics...must see! (LOAD)

[Venom SS]

These things are incredible, I would of never thought of them having those little razors. I would of never thought that they needed them. Do you know what this actually tells us? They might of actually needed this sometime in their evolutionary history.

Could you get me a closer picture of their joints? I'd love to be able to see how the hammer-razor appendage can move.

These pics are as good as I can get with the camera I have. The range of motion on it doesnt seem to be all that good. The pic above where the razor portion of the appendage is open, is fully extended. Neither joint would open any further without damaging it.

Really pretty. Have wanted one for a long time, unfortunately I havent had the guts to set up another saltwater setup.

These things require only the most basic essentials to maintain. For a big guy like this you would need atleast a 24g Nano, bigger if you can. Some live rock to make a nice cave for it to hide, and some mechanical filtration. Thats it. They eat just about anything. I feed mine frozen clams in the shell, live crawfish, raw shrimp (shell on), and sometimes a frozen silverside. Very little this guy refuses.

 

[FLESHY]

These things require only the most basic essentials to maintain. For a big guy like this you would need atleast a 24g Nano, bigger if you can. Some live rock to make a nice cave for it to hide, and some mechanical filtration. Thats it. They eat just about anything. I feed mine frozen clams in the shell, live crawfish, raw shrimp (shell on), and sometimes a frozen silverside. Very little this guy refuses.

Well good job. Youve done it. Officially collecting bits and pieces to start a small mantis tank.

 

[FLESHY]

Ive got a lot of other projects going on right now though...including something..."big". ( [V] ) So we will see. But they are beautiful, and Ive heard that they are some of the most amazing predators to watch. If i can snag a setup for cheap this might just happen.

Does anyone have a favorite species to use? One that is easier than another?

 

[Venom SS]

Ive got a lot of other projects going on right now though...including something..."big". ( [V] ) So we will see. But they are beautiful, and Ive heard that they are some of the most amazing predators to watch. If i can snag a setup for cheap this might just happen.

Does anyone have a favorite species to use? One that is easier than another?

The smasher type are easier IMHO. The spearing type need a really deep sand / mud substrate to burrow into, and they spend the majority of their time in the burrow.

 

[FLESHY]

Any good places to buy these guys? Or should I just start poking around in liverock?

 

[Venom SS]

Theres several places online that usually have them in stock. If you google "Clown Mantis for sale" or "Peacock Mantis for sale" it should pop up a few vendors. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+1702&pcatid=1702
is where I got mine but they appear to be out of stock at the moment. Was really impressed by the quality of this specimen and how nicely it was packed and shipped.

 

[FLESHY]

Theres several places online that usually have them in stock. If you google "Clown Mantis for sale" or "Peacock Mantis for sale" it should pop up a few vendors. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+1702&pcatid=1702
is where I got mine but they appear to be out of stock at the moment. Was really impressed by the quality of this specimen and how nicely it was packed and shipped.

Being from wisconsin I love fosters...before they started this online biz they used to come out to our horse farm to give the animals shots. Now look what theyve done.

Back in stock...now I just need to get that 28g long back from my buddy...and get my credit card limit a little bigger.

 

[lamisxz]

God damn. Screw the lion fish I'm getting myself a mantis. Whoot! Ih yes for got to say. Could the crack a 29 gallon?

 

[FLESHY]

God damn. Screw the lion fish I'm getting myself a mantis. Whoot! Ih yes for got to say. Could the crack a 29 gallon?

I want a mantis too...but lions are really sweet. Mine (flava flav) used to hand feed. He would swim upside down and backwards (literally) for krill. Stick his head out of the water...anything.

It started cause I had to hand feed him because the grouper wasnt letting any food get to him. In the beginning he gave me the threat stance a lot. (They lower their head to charge bc the first three dorsal spines are poisonous) But eventually he got over that. Probably the best fish pet Ive had other than oscars. The only thing is that he used to follow my hand around when I did tank maintenance...sometimes he surprised me. Im just lucky I never got stung.

 

[Fishcrunch]

Great....now i want a mantis shrimp....*starts looking for loose change*