Biotopic Mantis Tank

[aquaman590]

I have this 24 gallon NanoCube that I'm scoping out some plans for. One of my plans involves a biotopic setup for a mantis shrimp. I'm thinking of an O. scyllarus for my species of choice, and I know that they're an Indo-Pacific variety. What sort of environment would a mantis call home? In the various underwater documentaries I've seen, it seems the mantis live on sandy areas with some larger rocks here and there. But that's just from TV...and I'm not going to base my plans offa the tube! What would be the natural environment for a mantis?

 

[justinl]

If you get the peacock, at least two inches of sand and live rock. Provide some large pieces of rock and numerous small pieces for it to make a burrow. Shells can be used as well.

You could also use a PVC tube slightly wider than the mantis if you don't mind the "unatural" look of it.

 

[Gonodactylus]

What you saw on TV was correct. O. scyllarus lives on sand or muck bottoms with scattered rubble and coral. They dig u-shaped burrows that are reenforced using small pieces of rubble, shell, etc. A 5" animal would have a burrow around a meter long and 20-30 cm deep. We generally see them at depts from 3-30 m.

Roy

 

[mattyice]

i dont think a nano-cube 24 is big enough for a peacock and it would easily go through the glass if it wanted to

 

[Gonodactylus]

It really depends on the size of the O. scyllarus. Currently there are quite a few small O. scyllarus being sold. I've seen some as small as 2 inches. An animal in the 2-3 inch range would do well in a 24 gal nanno-cube for probably at least a year or two until it got to 4-5 inches. At that point, you would want to consider finding it a larger, more durable tank or trading it.

Roy

 

[aquaman590]

I chose the peacock because I was under the impression these were the easiest mantis shrimp to find. I also thought a G. smithii would be good, but aren't smithiis hard to find and accurately ID? Really, all I want is a mantis that will be pretty interactive, not holed up with no chance of seeing it. Are my assumptions true?

Edit-
Found another species that seems to be a good candidate. The Floridian N. wennerae! I wonder if SeaLife Florida could find one for me...?

 

[Gonodactylus]

O. scyllarus would be good. I would also recommend O. havanensis. OldDiver has been selling them of late on EBay.

Roy

 

[Msby12]

i currently have a small 2.5 inch (Estimation only) O. Scyllarus in a 24 gallon Aquapod, and as far as i know, Nanos and Aquapods' Glass is made the same way, and i've had no problems! I just don't dare tease it in any way from outside the tank

 

[aquaman590]

O. havaneisis looks to be a good candidate for my NC24, which runs a little warm. And your list says it's interactive and stays a bit smaller-awesome!

 

[Gonodactylus]

I like to recommend small Odontodactylids (O. havanensis, O. brevirostris, O. latirostris) to people who are looking for an interactive species that will not out grow a 20 gal system. However, there are a couple of caveats that come with this recommendation. First, these animals are fast and as such, can jump. They can easily clear 4 inches, so a top to the tank is important. Also, these animals require good water quality and high oxygen levels. Something as simple as stirring up the subsrate in a tank that does not have good ventillation and circulation can be lethal. However, high quality Nannos seem ideally suited for them.

Roy

 

[hahnmeister]

What was that documentary you saw anyways? I seem to remember one that nature did a year or so ago about the 'muck zone' or reef fringes where it was all about creatured living in the sediments... jawfish, anglers, grass eels, toadfish, a small striped octopus that had been filmed for the first time, the blue-ring, and the mantis shrimp. Sure wish I could get a name so I could try to find it on video/DVD.

Or, are there any other vids that you suggest Doc?

 

[Pea-brain]

I saw one of those on google vids.

 

[aquaman590]

Yeah, I did see that on your site mentioning how sensitive the havaneisis mantis is. i figure If I up the flow a bit maybe and keep the sand bed to a minimum I can avoid anaerobisis. Any other suggestions?

I think the documentary i saw was called Equator. The mantis shrimp was in a new, clean lava sand area after an eruption. 'Twas a big ol' scyllarus with eggs!