ID Request

[offgridmarine]

Hi all, just wanted to get some identification advice for my stomatopod. Unfortunately, he passed away a week ago. I am pretty devastated by the loss. I know I could have gotten better photos once he was deceased, but the idea of manipulating his body was unpalatable to me.


He was sold to me as N. Oerstedii, but I would like some confirmation, and just the opportunity to talk about and remember him a little while longer. Very special, intelligent creatures, and to us feels on par with losing a dog or a cat. For ID purposes, very active, constantly throwing sand around, punching the rocks, and would always have a "bedroom door" that he would block up at night. Arrived as a paler, "yellow" color, but remained this beautiful green after his first molt here.

Thank you!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[Stomatopods17]

Purple meral spots = N. Oerstedii, if it didn't have them it isn't one.

N. Wennerae more likely, can't 100% confirm it as that without better view of merals but that's in the past.

Most companies don't collect oersedii because they're south Caribbean exclusive where as wennerae is north caribbean (including the keys) where a lot of live rock is cultured and gets them as hitchhikers. Its still possible to find them if the collector looks further south enough but its a lot less common.

I don't think it's G. viridis but I'm pretty confident its not.