Lysiosquillina maculata

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Mantis shrimp
Lysiosquillina maculata
Species	Stomatopod
Difficulty	Moderate
Min. Tank Size	37.854 liters 37,854.118 mL 10 US Gallons (37.9L)
Size	15.24 cm 3-6 " (7.6-15.2cm)
pH	8.1 - 8.4
Temp.	295.372 K 22.222 °C 531.67 °R 298.706 K 25.556 °C 537.67 °R72 -78 °F (22.2-25.6°C)
Water Hardness	8-12
Stocking Ratio	1:1 M:F
Availability	Uncommon
Diet	Carnivore Live Foods
Life Span	4-6 years

[edit] Alternative names

Thumbsplitter

[edit] Species Note

The Mantis shrimp is frequently considered a aquarium pest, they are frequent hitchhikers on live rock and will kill aquarium stock. They are becoming increasingly popular as a Saltwater pet and keeping a mantis is one of the cheapest types of saltwater aquariums

[edit] Sexing

You can sex most mantis by looking at its tail from below when it is backed up against the glass. If it has two small sticks sticking inwards it is a male. If it has 2 spots close together it is a female. Some types of mantises can be sexed by color.

[edit] Tank compatibility

Only 1 mantis shrimp to a tank. If well fed smashing mantises can be kept with fast fish that swim in water column (CAUTION!)

[edit] Diet

Mantis shrimp are carnivorous. Smashers will eat small hermit crabs and snails. Smashers may eat fish, but normally not if food is plentiful. Spearers eat fish. Both can have their diet supplemented with frozen shrimp and squid, preferably soaked in nutrients like selcon

[edit] Feeding regime

Most species can survive 2-3 weeks without food, but it is suggested to feed 2 times a week to 1 time a day. Can be fed live foods such as crabs and snails, or in case of spearer, fish. Suggested to feed frozen foods such as shrimp and squid soaked in nutritional supplements such as selcon.

If the Mantis shrimp refuses to eat frozen foods then do not feed it for up to two weeks. everyday stick the food (On a stick or skewer) into the tank and swish it in front of the shrimp and wave it outside its burrow, or even prod it with the food lightly. If after 2 weeks it will still not eat put in some food it will eat such as crabs, snails, or if it is a spearer fish. try again in a week. Smasher type mantis shrimp need a little bit of hard shelled food to keep its raptorial appendage (smashing claws) in shape. This is especially important to the survival of Odontactylus Scyllarus, the peacock mantis shrimp, beacause it is prone to shell disease and molting problems.

[edit] Environment Specifics

This animal required calcium to facilitate molting. It also needs a burrow. An appropriate sized live rock will work for smashers (It will make a hole if there is not one available) or a PVC pipe about 1.5X the width of the mantis. Smaller smashers can house in large shells. Spearers require a burrow also. A spearer should be housed in a tank with a sand bed as deep as it is long. It will require a PVC pipe 1.5X the width of the mantis in a "U' shape. It should be buried in the sand at a 90 degree angle with both holes at the top of the sand and be as tall as the mantis is long. Some harder to keep spearers may require mud to make a burrow which can cause water problems. Some Mantises may require a chiller to survive. Odontactylus Scyllarus can't stand strong lights as it will cause shell rot and molting problems. It also requires good flow to prevent shell disease and preferably a protien skimmer. For smashers that live above 10 meters deep can stand full strength light.

Also smashers larger than 6" can break aquarium glass, though it is unlikely unless it is taunted. It may break it digging though, which is why a large smasher should be housed in a acrylic aquarium, or have acrylic put under the substrate and some acrylic strips in the corners.

[edit] Behaviour

Only one Mantis Shrimp should be kept in a tank. It will fight with and sometimes kill members of it species and many other livestock. In much larger tanks 2 mantises may be kept together and some spearers will mate for life. Some urchins and sea stars can be kept with caution also. It depends on the manises' personality

[edit] Identification

You should not depend on the store's classification. It is necessary to identify it yourself. A useful link for this is Dr. Roy's list which helps you identify most mantises commonly sold in aquariums. The first step to identifying the mantis is to figure out if it is a smasher or spearer. Smashers smash their prey, and spearers will spear soft bodied prey. If you hear a clicking noise it is probably a smasher. If you notice fish missing it is probably a spearer. next is it's size, color, and then if you know, where it come from. Dr. Roy's list is in external links.

[edit] Pictures

Front of a Lysiosquillina sp. (Mantis Shrimp)

[edit] External links

• Dr. Roy's stomatopod list
• The lurkers guide to stomatopods