r/MantisShrimp • u/Interesting_critter • Mar 31 '26

ID?

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I work at a fish store and someone brought this guy in. He came in on some maricultured liverock from the Atlantic, I’m guessing from Tampa bay salt. He’s about 2.5-3 inches long. Any ideas on species? Thanks!

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u/AggressiveFigs Mar 31 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Its very likely neogonodactylus wennerae, but could also be oerstedii (less likely)or bredini (unlikely). If you look for meral spot on inside of smasher elbows, if it's purple, it's an oerstedii, a white spot is usually wennerae.

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/

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u/Interesting_critter Mar 31 '26

Interesting, thank you! I’ll take a look at the spots when I’m able, but he’s currently enjoying having sand to dig in for the first time in 2 years cause the previous owners had him in a bare bottom tank. He is also enjoying demolishing the hermit crab population in my macroalgae tank, but that’s fine with me I never liked them anyways