So I heard a clicking...

I just added some more live rock to my 120 fowlr tank. Lately I have been hearing clicking, so last night I turned out the lights and waited in anticipation with my flashlight. Seeing movement in a rock, I pulled out the piece in question and dipped it in freshwater. Not one, but 2 good size red mantis (3 inches) fell out. I scrambled around and decided to convert the hospital tank to a mantis tank. My brother is probably going to take the spare since there were two. I am pretty psyched about this! I would love advice and thoughts on setup. Right now it is a barebottom 29 gallon biocube, but Im thinking of adding sand. Of course I put in some of my live rock pieces for them, too.

 

thats an excellent find steph. i found mine around xmas. just started a basic 10 gal for it. used the LR it was found in. did a water change in my DT , and used the water out of my DT , to fill up the 10. added some crushed coral for substrate , and just a basic HOB filter. and its been great ever since. good luck with your new friends.

guy

 

nice score..

 

cant wait to see a pic!!!!!

 

Ill post pics as soon as I can snap one. I actually found another one since the first two. It is tiny. Together the three of them look like the cingular wireless bars.

 

LOL great visual, great find

 

Where did you get your rock from?

If you can post high quality pictures showing the front, the back and the full body of the mantis I will give it my best yankee effort on IDing the species.

Knowing the origin of your rock would also be extremely helpful.

Since they are red though I am going to assume the rock came from florida or somewhere west atlantic and the species is N. Wennerae. If I am correct after a few molts they will most likely turn brown or green.

 

If I catch him out, I will most certainly snap pics. The rock is from Florida. I have been looking at Roy's List of Stomatopods, but couldn't find one that really matched up. Im like you, I think after some molts I will be better able to tell. I added crushed coral subrstrate, some more pieces of live rock, two damsels, and six little hermits for the sheer enjoyment of Fluffy. He/she is like a kid in a candy store!!