New Mantis Friend

Well i lost my first mantis about a month and a half ago, due to a bad molt. And i definitely didn't think i'd be getting one anytime soon, as mantis can be somewhat expensive.
But while on vacation in OBX i visited a pet shop in hopes they had a salt water section to drool over. The store i popped in to did, and the manager was quite friendly, he asked what kind of tanks i had and when i mentioned my poor deceased old mantis friend he QUICKLY retorted "You want another one?!?"
I of course said "Yes, how could you not want one?!" He immediately headed over to a small and empty looking tank, and in it was a cute little 1.5 inch Mantis friend. He had said it came in on some new LR they had gotten 2 days ago. The LR came from the Caribbean somewhere. He said it had decimated quite a few snails and some cory cats they threw in there for fun. He was seeming a bit anxious to get rid of this guy!
I was a bit hesitant, as i live 6 hours away from OBX, but he assured me he could pack him well enough to make the trip. So i caved. They best part however was, since they were so eager to be rid of this "monster", I got him for $6.00. "One dollar for ever hour" he said.
I was a bit concerned as it was about 97-98 that day, my car has no AC, and the windows are broken and only roll half way down. But i thought it was worth the risk. His water did get a bit warm on the way back, but he made it and is happily building MANY tunnels and holes for himself. He hasn't ventured into the PVC though, as i think it is too big for him, and he doesn't feel safe. He is already MUCH more active and interactive than my last! I've treid getting some pics on the camera phone, but it sucks. SO pics to come later. He does Flare out when i put the camera next to the tank, defending his turf i guess ;-)
I think he is a N. wennerae. He's got white meral spots and his rostral spine is visible. He's got pinkish/red tips on his raptoral appendages, and is an almost strawberry/brown color. Yellow antennal scales and swimmerets. (Am i way off on N.wennerae?)
Sorry for this long a** post, but it's just so exciting to have another little guy in my life!

 

awesome! Congrats. Cant wait to see the pics!

 

That's a steal! Sorry for your loss, but happy for your new friend.. Ppics, pics, pics...

 

Congrats on the new mantis!

Sounds like you are dead on with N. wennerae. If it is from the Caribbean, has white meral spots, and does not have blue raptorial appendages it is either N. wennerae or N. bredini which is practically the same thing.

 

Congrats on the new little buddy! Now lets see some pics! lol

 

Thanks all, i hope to have a new camera within the week. And thanks Stepho for the i.d. info, whatever he is; he's awesome already. Only had him for a week now!