Can 2 mantis shrimp be housed together

[jgoelz]

I have a 5 gallon bowfront tank that contains a small amount of live rock, some live sand, and 1 Mantis Shrimp that is app. 2 inches long.

My question is, "Can 2 mantis shrimp be housed together in a tank this size if I set up two seperate 'Islands' of live rock?"

I have never heard if Mantis' can live together in a small space or if they are aggressive towards each other? I know they can be vicious towards everything else that moves including hitchhiking limpets and snails. Will they kill each other?

 

[majestic sea life]

no

 

[sbwood007]

I dont think so. I got my mantis from a guy who had two or more in his 100 + gal that came with his live rock. He cought two
about the same size and put them in a small container, by the next day my mantis killed the other. His name is Tony after the Sopranos....

Stephen

 

[jgoelz]

Thanks for the info guys. I won't try it.

 

[mx250]

I had three in a 30g, and one was killed. The two remaining have co-existed there for about 18 months, but I'm guessing I've been lucky. I thought it wasn't a good idea, but I had three from my live rock, so...

If you really want two, I'd suggest separate tanks. You can enjoy both of them, and you don't have to worry about loosing one. As an aside, though both of mine are the same kind, they are rather different when it comes to their behavior, so having two is kinda cool.

 

[gazpep]

I had one that was discovered a month or so after I'd set up my previous reef. About 6 months later I spotted a smaller one, but only ever saw the little one on that occasion.

The bigger one remains and after pulling that reef down found no sign of the little one. My guess is that the bigger one killed the other one, they are probably territorial to some extent and like some fish won't tolerate an intruder of the same species sharing their turf..

 

[Dazz]

I had in a 10 gallon and they happend to be of the opposite sex and had 2 sets of young.

 

[overflowin]

were you successful in rearing the young?

donnie

 

[sbwood007]

Cool.... I would like to know also.. If so how?

Stephen

 

[Dazz]

No, I was neither prepared, nor interested in rearing them. They both happend to be hitchhikers on some TBS rock I had.

AFAIK it is near impossible raising them in captivity. You have to seperate each one into it's own container because they will go canibalistic on each other.

 

[sbwood007]

Bummer.

 

[jjrock]

I have had two mantis shrimp living together in a 20 G reef for about 4 month. One is a large OS (Ogonodactylus Scyllarus sp?) and the other is yet unidentified (probably winnerea).

The latter one, being smaller, is more reclusive and keeps himeself well hid, but pops out to nab a crab or snail when the times is right.

The other, larger one, has a large cave at the bottom of a huge rock pile. They have both attempted to strike one another, and have even succeded in a small lashing here or there, but generally they keep away form one another.

Additionally, I used to have anoter VERY AGRESSIVE mantis (OS) who would kill anytnig taht went near it, but when I put in yet anotehr OS they woudln't go near one another. It appeared to me that both of them (being nearly the same size) knew the danger that the other introduced ... so they just went opposite ways.

At any rate, I know it is possibly because I am doing it right now.

Good luck.

JJ.