Odontodactylus havanensis

Common Name: None
Scientific Name: Odontodactylus havanensis
Family: Odontodactylidea
Order: Stomatopoda

Origin: West Atlantic, common off the Florida Keys

Max size: 2 ¾”

Minimum Aquarium size: 20 gal. There are species that can be kept in as little as 5 gal, but this is not one.

Temp: 73 degrees – 82 degrees

Salinity: 34–35 PSU

Substrate: A mix of sand and crushed coral is best, with several small pieces of rubble they can rearrange, and decorate their den with.

Acclimation: Drip acclimation is recommended.

Reef safe: No. Will consume some members of the clean-up crew, and may consume slow moving, or sickly fish. May move frags, but overall should not bother corals at all.

Diet: Carnivore. Natural diet consists mainly of small crustaceans and gastropods. In an aquarium they will eat any meaty food, but should be offered live crabs and snails for exercise and dietary reasons.

General Morphology: Has the general appearance of a shrimp, although it is only loosely related. Right on top of its head stomatopods have the cutest and most functional eyes. They are capable of a range of vision fair beyond that of humans. Tucked under their carapace they have what is known as a raptorial appendage. It is a strong striking claw the stomatopod uses to break crab and snail shells. They have three pairs of walking legs, and several pairs of swimmates. Stomatopods have the best vision of any known animal, the strongest punch per body size of any animal, and are right up there for fastest swimming speed per body length.

Behavior: This species of stomatopod is considered one of the more interactive species. They like to rearrange rocks small enough for them to move. They are very intelligent and curious and will watch you, and I don’t mean in the way a fish will wait for food. Even while eating they will study you, which can be unnerving. If over fed on prepared food they may tend to hang around their den more often.

Overall they are very hardy, but this species will not tolerate low oxygen or changing parameters. They are also a powerful swimmer and are capable of jumping, so a closed top or jumper screen is required. They tend to do best with low light as they occur naturally at a depth of at least 50 feet.

 

nice post, I almost picked up a tiny green mantis that a relative didn't want in his reef tank.

 

Why didn't you? They don't require much. It most likely would have been a N. wennerae you could have kept it in a 5 gal.

 

Very nice write up Stepho. I have to say that O. Hav is by far my favorite invert as well. I take care of mine and her environment better than my reef it seems. LOL
It is unnerving that she will come from her den or change entrances just to stare at me. Cool at the same time though. I love her so much and can't believe that I thought they were monsters for so long!

 

Well you just did - and thank you very much! This is great. I am putting it on the homepage now.

matt

 

no common name?

how about clayton?

 

Mine is a girl so I call it Mallory, but as a species they don't have a common name. Stomatopods are generally misidentified by collectors, distributors and LFS, anyway though.

 

excellent write up stepho. and good to see mallory is such a pretty girl.

 

My girlfriend complains that I give Mallory more compliments than her. ;D

 

theres not a chance im gonna post what im thinking.