Mantis ID

My friend found this mantis in his live rock and i am thinking about setting up a tank for it. I want to find out what type it is so i can research its needs properly. The LR is from the Caribbean. Thanks for any help.

 

I believe that is a n. wennerae. Which is a nice find if you are wanting to set a tank up for it. Grats!

 

Your sure it came from the Caribbean right? If so it is either a N. wennerae or N. bredini, either way care requirements are the same. If it is from south Caribbean it would be bredini, north Caribbean than wennerae. Fine in any size tank from 5 gal up, I prefer a 10 gal though. Offer a variety of meaty foods, small live hermit crabs, and small live snails.

Very nice looking mantis.

 

Thanks for the info guys. k+
It's from right here in Trinidad, so south Caribbean. I was going to put it in 15g, would that be a waste? If I used that big a tank would anything else be able to live with it?

 

not sure what kinda manits i have but i keep 2 damsels with him and he doesnt bother them at all

 

That's cool. I was thinking about a pair of damsels with him and a lot of macros.

 

I wouldn't say 15 gal is a waste. I used to have my N. wennerae (basically the same species except to a biologist) in a 10 gal and he cruised all over the place. Most mantis will not bother any quick, non-bottom dwelling fish. I kept my wennerae with a damsel, and I keep my O. havanensis. The damsel actually picks on my mantis.

If the focus of the tank is the mantis and you just want a fish to look at while the mantis is molting I recommend a fire fish or something like that. If you don't mind the chance of the damsel chasing the mantis into its den all the time, than I recommend damsels because they are so cheap.

I am planning on putting some macros and soft corals in my O. hav tank.

If you have a clear picture of the tail, raptorial appendages showing meral spots, and perhaps a good dorsal view I can ID it for you. The dorsal view may not be required, also helps if you know where it came from too.

 

Wow thats a really cool mantis. Congrats on keeping him.

 

The mantis would be the focus of the tank. I don't want to any fish to harass and make the mantis more reclusive. I'll look into some small peaceful fish. Maybe the firefish or a gramma.
Soft corals and macros will look sweet together.
Thanks for the help.

Thanks.

 

that would be awsume first i would half to lure him outa the hole he lives in i may swap my damsels for a fire fish or other peacefull fish.. anyway all my live rock is indonisian and thats were i got him from he was a hitch hicker he is green a smasher and has a few silver metallic spots on his tail if that helps hes about 1 1/2 to 2 inches right now and is very loud with his rock breaking when i play my xbox lol