Where to buy a Mantis Shrimp online:

[Decat]

Will you help me put together the most reliable places to purchase a Mantis Shrimp online?

Here is my list so far:

https://bluezooaquatics.com/productlist.asp?did=2&cid=84
http://www.liveaquaria.com/category/525/shrimp?c=497+525
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet-sup...1_72&ea_c=Saltwater-Shrimp-at-That-Fish-Place
http://www.quantumreefs.com/Shrimp_c_2712.html

Which places am I forgetting, and are all these reliable in your opinion?

 

[tupes]

In my opinion (IMO) I would stick to your first two choices? Will this be your first saltwater aquarium?

 

[Decat]

No, not by any stretch. I have had saltwater aquariums since 2003. I was asking more as a resource for myself right now, and others in the future.

 

[ritter6788]

Been awhile but,

kpaquatics.com had O. havanesis and P. ciliata and more.

tampabaysaltwater.com had N. wennerae

I would avoid the generic "clown mantis" from liveaquaria. They have a long history of sending out G. chiragra. Divers den was a better choice.

 

[Decat]

Update:

I order a Peacock Mantis from Blue Zoo and got an absolutely beautiful Peacock Mantis.

I ordered a "Clown Mantis Shrimp" from LiveAquaria, which was listed with the scientific name for the Peacock Mantis (Odontodactylus scyllarus), and I got a Purple Spotted Mantis (Gonodactylus smithii) from them.

Not really happy with LiveAquaria on this, but Blue Zoo exceeded my expectations.

 

[Decat]

Here is the Peacock Mantis from Blue Zoo:

 

[Decat]

Here is the "Clown Mantis" from LiveAquaria:

 

[Decat]

The only great thing about getting the Purple Spot Mantis from LiveAquaria is that somehow in some way, my Purple Spot came with a SUPER SMALL mantis fry:

I have never seen a Mantis this small in captivity, so it was kinda awesome to see him/her. I got some great videos of the baby Mantis reaching out for a speck of food I placed within reach, but I don't know how to upload videos here.

 

[ritter6788]

That's likely an amphipod.

and I think you scored on the G. smithii. Those are great mantis shrimp and not always as easy to find.

 

[ritter6788]

I would contact LA on the misidentification though. They may refund you since you didn't get what you ordered.

 

[Tim2@Triton]

The only great thing about getting the Purple Spot Mantis from LiveAquaria is that somehow in some way, my Purple Spot came with a SUPER SMALL mantis fry:

I have never seen a Mantis this small in captivity, so it was kinda awesome to see him/her. I got some great videos of the baby Mantis reaching out for a speck of food I placed within reach, but I don't know how to upload videos here.

View attachment 554494

View attachment 554495

View attachment 554496

That's an Amphipod mate, 100%

 

[Decat]

I have had 2 Peacock Mantis Shrimp in my BioCube so far (obviously not at the same time). They each ate like champs, and were doing awesome with no issues for the first 3-4 months. My most recent Peacock Mantis even molted twice in the 3 months he was in the tank. However they each started to not eat and died at the 3 month mark for no apparent reason. Any advice? I have other invertebrates in there that are still doing great. Not sure what the problem is? Do I need to test the water for iodine levels? I was just adding iodide drops once a week without measuring. Could aluminum have seeped into the water from the MarinePure balls?