A new fluffarium

[Ruu]

As some of you know, I have just acquired a Mantis, codenamed "fluffy" from TBS (no pics yet, although I am pretty positive its an N. Wen of about 2"). Originally I planned on giving him away, but after a couple of feedings Ive decided hes going nowhere. The big question is what I should house him in - I intend to get something to serve as refugium / fluffarium / second display this weekend. Does anyone have any opinions on good mantis homes? Should I go with acrylic or glass (is there any chance of an N. Wennerae breaking glass - it seems pretty unlikely, but I dont really want to risk it if it is possible)? Any good shapes been tried (hex / pentagon etc)?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Dave

 

[amcarrig]

I keep mine in an AGA 2.5 mini bow:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/wetpetsusa/alaq25galmin1.html

 

[nubreefer]

No chance of breaking glass. I can't believe you didn't have something waiting for him to live in though. What are you keeping him in, in the mean time? I think 2.5g is a little slim for a 2 inch mantis. I have mine in a 5g and he seems relatively happy.

 

[amcarrig]

No chance of breaking glass. I can't believe you didn't have something waiting for him to live in though. What are you keeping him in, in the mean time? I think 2.5g is a little slim for a 2 inch mantis. I have mine in a 5g and he seems relatively happy.

The mantis came in on live rock...I don't believe it was intentionally purchased.

My mantis seems relatively happy in its 2.5 gallon. I also got the thumbs up from the folks here at R/C when I asked if it was ok for my n. wennerae to be kept in this small tank

 

[opihi]

i've kept mine in an acrylic 3 gallon and now a 5 gallon glass cube. the 5 gallon seems to be more than enough room.

 

[Ruu]

Yes - he is currently sitting in a well-cycled 54, and he came in on a TBS rock shipment. Its not like he is at risk right now, just the rest of my cleanup crew...

Dave

 

[Ruu]

Since I have need of a refugium, and I dont want to set up a tank outside of my main water system (having just bought a chiller at vast expense), I was thinking of setting up something a little larger at maybe 15 gallons. Maybe a pair of them could get together at some point (how do you sex a stomatopod?).

Dave

 

[Uriel]

My 2" G. Viridis is in a 6 gallon. He seems fine with the size, actually just hanging out in his 'castle' of LR most of the time.

 

[T-T-Trigger]

you all are CRUEL! I think a 50 is minimum, in fact I am keeping my Chiragra in a 125 reef.

I say 30g an inch as a conservative rule of thumb.

 

[Ruu]

I think that 60 gallons for a 2inch shrimp might be a smidgen generous - particularly for one that appears to show no inclination to leave his single rock habitat, but I do agree that 2.5 gallons could be a little tight. I'm off to that fish place tomorrow to look for something to drill into my system - we shall see what fluffy ends up for as a home.

Dave

 

[Ruu]

OK,

I finished drilling fluffy's new home today. I got a 20 gallon high that matches my existing tank / stand (well, more or less). Lighting is a pair of Coralife mini PC's, and I mixed a pair of 6700k bulbs with a 10k + actinic just for the hell of it to see what would grow best. I'll put a 4" DSB in there, and move my jungle rock (the big green thing on the right) plus fluffy's rock in there in a week or so's time.

On a side note, fluffy took his first casualty today. I didn't feed him by hand yesterday as I have been doing for the last week or so, and he took out a snail today to remind me where my priorities lie. He also still refuses to be photographed though, no matter how hard I try.

Dave

 

[opihi]

Dave,
it looks good. can't wait to see it when it's completed.

jeff

 

[RonSF]

how do you sex a stomatopod?

Please forgive me, but: VERY CAREFULLY!
-Ron