Got another mantis

[rudy]

Spearer now.

Anybody had one?

[rudy]

WRITE UP ON MY NEW BUDDY.

Slice and Dice, Pseudosquilla ciliata

General biography:

The P. ciliata is a very active and personable mantis. Seemingly fearless , the P.c. will spend much of its time active and out in the open. Though harder to come across than many of the smashing species of mantis, it has a wide geographical distribution and is the most common spearing mantis available. Hence, they are to be found on occasion.

Biologically speaking:

Their coloration is highly variable and can change drastically during the molting process and individuals from different collection areas may not even appear to be of the same species! They can range in color from bright yellow to brown and almost black. One unique color pattern to the P.c. is a white stripe running down the back, looking very much like that of a skunk. This particular coloration is unique in the Stomatopod world as are their eyes, which have a rather eerie, engaging crossing pattern to them (see pics)

Source location:

Indo-West Pacific, North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Southwest Atlantic.

Captive care:

This mantis burrows in the sandy substrate to make it's home, but small pieces of live rock rubble will still be welcomed. As will larger pieces used for cover; either cover for hunting activities or to burrow under. A large, thick-walled tank is not necessary for this critter because it maintains a modest size and has not the powerful strike to damage aquarium parts. While not a picky eater necessarily, it has been my experience that the P.c. will not overeat. If it is not hungry it will not take food (as some mantises do only to discard it without eating) and seems to do well on 2-3 feedings a week.

Tankmates?:

Just about any fish that are not too small to get caught (no damselfishes, clowns, and the like) or too large to eat the mantis (lions, groupers, triggers, etc...). Even invertebrates make good tankmates for this mantis giveb that it is a spearer and lacks the smashing appendage necessary to eat snails and crabs, or disturb the well-being of larger inverts like sea urchins and starfish.