okay time for the first "did you know" about mantids. Fact: a large mantis can move their smashing arms (raptorial appendages) to produce forces up to 1400 N (same force as a .22 caliber rifle bullet at muzzle velocity). It is the fastest recorded movement in the animal kingdom. not all mantids can do this though. Only the really big ones like Peacocks (O. scyllarus) and G. chiragra.
and back to me...
For a while i sat around twiddling my thumbs... I wanted a mantis and was ready to put it in. The problem was that i couldn't find one! argh. I searched and searched but to no avail. Then Ticketyboo reserved one at hidden reef and let me take it even though he was looking for one himself!
Now that's looking out for a fellow aquarist. So my thanks to david!
hidden reef thought it was a peacock but it was actually a G. smithii. My close second preference. It's a "he" and very colourful. His name is Trogdor. Here he is acclimatizing in a fishbowl with a snail i got for free. Say hi troggie!
if you look closely, he's clutching a sacraficial nassarius in his claws. I wanted to see his reaction to it. The snail survived the ordeal unharmed... for now.
btw, i apologize for both my lack of a dsecent camera and utter lack of photography skills. He's much prettier in person.