Best Mantis for 6 gallon fluval

[A_Doo]

For Christmas, my buddy got me a fluval edge 6 gallon. The LED lights look as though they have been upgraded. My buddy is pretty knowledgeable when it comes to setting up and maintaining tanks, but you are the mantis shrimp experts, so why not ask y'all? :lol2:

Any help/advice is most appreciated!

I've been looking at all the different types on Roy's list of Stomatopods http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/

A few points/ questions
1. 4 inches seems to be the max size of shrimp I could keep. Yes or no?
2. If the stomatopod only preys on crustaceans and mollusks, would it be possible to keep a small fish with it as well, or would it be in peril?
3. Is it safe to get smaller invertebrates as feed from the marine aquatics store?
4.No coral.
5.Have enough sand for it to burrow in/have a cave. I'm sure this is specific to the type of mantis, but it seems to be a common trait.

Any other advice it greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Nightwitch]

N. wennerae would be the best choice. They're readily available, pretty cheap, hardy, and quite active/interactive. G. smithii would be a good choice for that size as well, though I haven't personally kept one so I don't know how hardy they are in comparison to a wennerae.

As to keeping a fish with it - mantis shrimp are very messy eaters, so that might be a lot of bio-load for such a small tank. Plus, smashers will kill fish sometimes, basically at their whim, so it has to be a fish you don't mind getting eaten.

 

[Calappidae]

Your tank is very small. A 4inch stomatopod would need anywhere between 10 to 20 gallons depending on activity. A small tank is going to be tricky with swinging parameters as well. It depends on the indivigual stomatopods personality with tankmates. My N. Wrennerae lives peacefully with an emerald crab and various snails while some use those for feeders for theirs. On another note.. the tank wouldn't be big enough for any fish other than gobies which are slow and may be a tempting meal.

I agree with N. wrennerae for their hardiness. Love mine

 

[Kharn]

For Christmas, my buddy got me a fluval edge 6 gallon. The LED lights look as though they have been upgraded. My buddy is pretty knowledgeable when it comes to setting up and maintaining tanks, but you are the mantis shrimp experts, so why not ask y'all? :lol2:

I've been looking at all the different types on Roy's list of Stomatopods http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/

Have you ever had a saltwater tank before, if no, I "personally" think this is a bad idea, my first venture into saltwater was with a small 2ft and I had nothing but failure and minimal knowledge...years later I attempted with a tank twice the size and boy did I have success...

It's very easy to pick what stomatopod you desire, it's another thing entirely to get what you desire...

1. 4 inches seems to be the max size of shrimp I could keep. Yes or no?

1. No - Anything <50mm is should be fine though, Haptosquilla, Viridis, Etc.

2. If the stomatopod only preys on crustaceans and mollusks, would it be possible to keep a small fish with it as well, or would it be in peril?

2. Watch some of my videos...BOTH spearer & smasher can perform each others roles...

3. Is it safe to get smaller invertebrates as feed from the marine aquatics store?

3. By this do you mean live food ? If so yes, they will consume a broad range of food, dead or live.

4. No coral.

4. ???

5. Have enough sand for it to burrow in/have a cave. I'm sure this is specific to the type of mantis, but it seems to be a common trait.

5. All Stomatopods do need burrows yes, PVC is perfect for this.


I hope this answers some of your questions...I'd be careful to if you did get a "100mm" species, let's say you managed to get a G.chiragra which is a "100mm" species...this species is known to be very powerful and a tank cracker, a fluval edge has very fine glass, finer then most normal tanks...

 

[A_Doo]

Thanks guys! I will certainly take all that into consideration. One more question.
Where is the best place to obtain a mantis? I asked the guy that owns a local aquatics store about mantis shrimp and he looked at me like I was some kind of fool. thanks again guys

 

[Nightwitch]

Thanks guys! I will certainly take all that into consideration. One more question.
Where is the best place to obtain a mantis? I asked the guy that owns a local aquatics store about mantis shrimp and he looked at me like I was some kind of fool. thanks again guys

For an N. wennerae, I would think Tampa Bay Saltwater. They have a website and they have a flat-rate price for a wennerae shipped to your door.

 

[A_Doo]

Most excellent. Thanks Nightwitch!

 

[Fartin'Gary]

You better be great with the water parameters and always have R/O or distilled water ready for top offs or else that tiny tank will get out of hand fast.

 

[Nightwitch]

You better be great with the water parameters and always have R/O or distilled water ready for top offs or else that tiny tank will get out of hand fast.

That's a really good point. I'd overdo the filtration and maybe get one of those mini protein skimmers that they sell for biocubes.