Think I inherited a Mantis Shrimp fr. Garrick... (1 Viewer)

[PygmyAngel]

I got some of the live rock from Garrick that he's getting rid of, and well, as I was getting the rock out of the bag one by one I saw a critter squirming, and thought at first it was an Emerald Crab...was about to reach for it and 'help it' cuz I felt bad that it's been out of water for 2 days just wrapped in towels and in a bag....but before I could get to it, it squirmed and fell down further into the bag, and I noticed its body was long and caterpillar-ish...then I realized, oh crap! That was not a crab!

Then I poured the bag of rocks into a bucket of water and he tumbled into the bucket then started to swim. It's long and green with bulbous eyes. Has to be a mantis, right!?

Guess it's a good thing the rock was not given to me in a bucket of water where it would have been hidden far in the rock, as I would never have seen it. It's now in a bucket w/ an airstone and some of the pieces of rock....

Um, I don't have a tank set up for a mantis, and I don't want to harm anyone or it, so does anyone want it? I can try to get a photo of it, but the bucket is real cloudy & dirty because I was using it to clean hair algae off rocks. I could try to move it to clean water tomorrow and take a photo to verify for sure...it just freaks me out a bit, as I don't want it to hurt me and break my finger or whatever (don't they have a bad rep & very dangerous claws, right?).... 8O

Well, let me know if anyone wants to come see it or have it....I don't want it to die in a bucket of water, and I'm not moving it to my tank...

 

[Guest]

That is Smashy! Just so you know, there is no extra charge for him.
Pretty amazing, since the larger pieces of live rock left early and you ended up with mostly smaller bits.
Anyway, he likes to help control the population of the clean up crew.
Someone should take him. He is a very pretty bright green. If I had a tank . . .

 

[PygmyAngel]

Not smashy! Not for me anyway!

Yeah, he's pretty bright green....but I don't want just a mantis tank, therefore it needs a home where someone can appreciate it.

 

[lcanisix]

I've got a pretty cool video of my son's mantis, Spike, taking a crab about the size of a quarter (an unwanted hitchiker from my tank :twisted: ). Not sure if there's a way to upload it but I could e-mail it if anyone wants.

We got him from DonnieKim as a way to get the boy involved

Spike shares a little 9gal Odyssea tank with a small brittle, some gorgonians and whatever hermits/snails he hasn't caught yet. He's pretty cool!!! 8)

Unfortunately, I don't think Spike and Smashy would cohabitate or we'd take him off your hands. Sorry!

 

[PygmyAngel]

Well shucks, thought I almost had a taker...

Anyone else want to give Smashy a good home? Anyone?

I'd hate to leave it in a bucket for an extended period of time and it just die if someone wanted it....

 

[KarenHorn]

I'm sorry, as far as I'm concerned Mantis's are the cockroachs of the ocean........GROSS!!! I do feel for you, but I vote you put him out of your misery

 

[Guest]

I'm interested, but you're on the other side of the world from me...

 

[Cakepro]

It's a really good thing you weren't able to grab him...he would have opened you up.

Pretty cool critter...if you haven't found a home for him yet, I'd love to buy or adopt him from you. I have a small dedicated acrylic tank plumbed into my main tank that is just housing some sun corals...no clean up critters will be sacrificed.

 

[PygmyAngel]

Texas Jenn, I sent you back a pm....but yeah, I work on this side of town too, so I don't make it over to the other side or drive much anywhere these days. If you are wanting to drive over this way, and meet me somewhere in the south side, since you asked first, then I could let you have it....

But if not, Cakepro is on my side of town and she's offering to take it as well, so let me know what you want to do.

Also, I will take a pic of it and post it here tonight.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[Cakepro]

Hey TexasJenn, wanna arm wrestle for it?

Let me know if you want to drive the two hours to get down here. Heehee

(psss Kim...thanks for considering me as a potential adoptive parent for your skrimp. )

 

[PygmyAngel]

Okay, here's a pic

Here's Smashy.....

Look like a mantis anyone?

 

[Guest]

Smashy!
I can positively identify him as my green little friend.
He prefers blue-legged hermits but can also be tempted with snails (shell on).

 

[AggieBrandon]

wow he is green

 

[Guest]

Hey TexasJenn, wanna arm wrestle for it?

Let me know if you want to drive the two hours to get down here. Heehee

(psss Kim...thanks for considering me as a potential adoptive parent for your skrimp. )

no-you can have him. I'm glad someone who lives closer can get him, he IS cool tho.

Thanks NEway!

 

[Guest]

Nobody here keeps mantis shrimps? I think they are anything but the cockroaches of the ocean. They are amazing. I have a 6" peacock that is beautiful. I also dont think they are near as bad as people make them out to be. Ive had this tough guy in a glass tank for a year and hes never once hit the glass. He eats krill and silversides out of my fingers and has never acted aggressive at all. He will smash snails and hermits if given the opportunity. I think whoever gets him will really enjoy him. They seem like very intelligent creatures and mine watches me as much as I watch him. I actually bought mine on purpose though and would not want one in my reef that I couldnt catch.

Angela

 

[Guest]

I really like them too. We have everything from a mimic octopus to seahorses to giant moray eels and sharks and the thing that people seem to like the most is the big mantis shrimp. Nothing in the shop draws the same crowd. The only problem I have is kids trying to tease her by tapping on the glass.