Zebra mantis

[my2rotties]

Do any of you have one of these awesome creatures? My buddy at the LFS gave me a 8" zebra mantis for Christmas, and she is doing great in my 55g fuge. I feed her dead fish from the LFS and the odd Damsel fish. She does not live inside of rocks but tunnels under them and glues the sand into a jello like goo some how.

I was reading people keep more then one of them together, and I would love a smasher to go with the spearer. Is it possible? I really thought they would not get along, so this is why I ask.

She's a facinating creature and watches us in the sump room as much as we watch her. The last damsel fish was a larger one I gave to her, and I watched her always changing her hunting techniques to catch it. She did not have a clear shot at the damsel since it would hide behind the rocks. So... she stayed still until the fish would practically sit on her head for a day or two... Well I called my friend at the LFS asking if the fish was too big and she could not get it. Two hours later I found the fish buried upside down in her tunnel, not even eaten yet. Smart and patient hunter is all can say since the fish was there for two weeks.

So can I have more or should I not chance it? I want a peacock as the next one.

[fishoholic]

I always thought that mantis's shouldn't be kept together because one would kill the other but I don't know for sure.

[muck]

Chris_A has a HUGE one...
Photos??

[albert_dao]

I acquired last year from a friend. Lost it when my tank was smashed.

Can't really say I was super enthusiastic about it. Stayed under the substrate or in tubes all day and only came out for a couple seconds when I threw in food.

It was really pretty though.

[my2rotties]

There are photos of Grendel (yeah I gave her a name)on my link below. SHe does not do very much but loves to dig tunnels and caves. I think she uses saliva or something to make the sand sticky. She lays on her back with her tail curled under, or flat out on her side. I only saw her strike once and it was so fast, I hardly saw it.

You could actually hear the water move in the tank. Her reach is longer then her body I believe and she does not miss. When she nailed the damsel fish I mentioned, she pretty much slit it's throat area. I don't mind how she looks when she is sitting, but when she goes mobile to swim aroubnd the tank, she looks pretty freaky. Her equipment is so top heavy she struggles a little to keep from sinking in the front. When she climbs up on the blower, I get ready to run out of the room... I don't know what I would do if she climbed out on me.

At least she stays out in the open for me too see her. I have to say she is the coolest Christmas gift I have ever gotten.

[my2rotties]

I kind of figured the same thing, but I saw a post that mentioned they had more then one. The only thing living with mine is a gorilla crab (really gross)Doug from the LFS gave me for my puffer. I could not go through skewering the crab to a stick for Griff, and I was warned not to let it get away in my display. So Grendel has a buddy with body armor.

Originally Posted by fishoholic

I always thought that mantis's shouldn't be kept together because one would kill the other but I don't know for sure.

[Borderjumper]

very cool! I would be worried about bringing home dead fish for it IF your refug is plumbed into a system with fish in it.. ya just never know why the fish died!

[my2rotties]

Very good point indeed... They are frozen and thawed before giving them her. Does that help any? The fuge is plumbed into the entire system, and I never even thought of it. I am feeling pretty stupid now.

QUOTE=Borderjumper;376981]very cool! I would be worried about bringing home dead fish for it IF your refug is plumbed into a system with fish in it.. ya just never know why the fish died![/quote]

[Borderjumper]

I wouldnt... they are dead for a reason!

[my2rotties]

I won't be doing that any more. I guess my next question is how often do I need to feed her, since I have not found any useful info on keeping a zebra mantis. My hubby's buddy comes over with a couple of damsels when he pops over to watch Grendel hunt... she never does it for him. The last time he came by he mentioned the guy at the LFS he was at said to buy mollies for the shrimp. I jsut did not think that sounded right since they are fresh water fish.

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

I wouldnt... they are dead for a reason!