Can a mantis shrimp break an Eclipse?

[tyrel]

I have been considering a mantis shrimp as my first venture into the world of marine aquaculture, partly because of their apparent hardiness. It seems that an Eclipse brand aquruim would be a very easy way to go about keeping one.

I was wondering if they would be able to crack a setup like that, and what size would be needed to house one. The problem is, I have no idea what species I will have access to, if any. If someone could give me an idea of what would be needed for a large/small, smasher/spearer, ect. in tems of housing, I would greatly appreaciate it.

PS: How do you attach a heater onto an Eclipse tank?

 

[Agu]

[welcome]

In general a mantis' ability to break tanks is exaggerated. First step is to determine what mantis are available........

 

[tyrel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8754366#post8754366 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Agu
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

In general a mantis' ability to break tanks is exaggerated. First step is to determine what mantis are available........

I was hoping to get an overview of the needs or various species, so I could act quickly when one becomes available (which may not be for a while).

 

[psychodave]

Check out Dr. Roy's list o' Stomatopods... clicky

Each species profile will tell you their sizes, minimum size tank, coloration, tips for Identification and more.

Ive never had an Eclipse but I would imagine a heater with suction cups would work...

 

[tyrel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8755897#post8755897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psychodave
Check out Dr. Roy's list o' Stomatopods... clicky

Each species profile will tell you their sizes, minimum size tank, coloration, tips for Identification and more.

Ive never had an Eclipse but I would imagine a heater with suction cups would work...

Thanks Psychodave! This looks like it will come in handy.

 

[Thurge]

Tampabaysaltwater.com is probably the best place to get a mantis that you are sure will stay small. Thats no guarantee you couldn't get a mantis that would grow big, but its about as close as you will come, and they almost always have them in and its $50 to your door.

 

[tyrel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8760085#post8760085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thurge
Tampabaysaltwater.com is probably the best place to get a mantis that you are sure will stay small. Thats no guarantee you couldn't get a mantis that would grow big, but its about as close as you will come, and they almost always have them in and its $50 to your door.

The problem with that is that I live in Canada. It would cost hundreds to get it to me. Oh well.

If a large, common mantis like Odontodactylus scyllarus bacame available, what housing would be nessesary to prevent a break-out?

 

[BigRiver]

I got stuff delivered by TBS to an american airport near my home and just drove through the border! As easy as that!
the custom fee is about 15%

 

[BigRiver]

BTW where do you live? I have 3 mantis in my little 12g aquapod right now (all from rocks from TBS!!)

 

[Paul B]

I would imagine if you threw the shrimp at the tank really hard it would crack it :lol:

 

[tyrel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8761015#post8761015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigRiver
BTW where do you live? I have 3 mantis in my little 12g aquapod right now (all from rocks from TBS!!)

I live on Vancouver Island. Not close enough to justify driving over the border. I have my LFS looking into ordering a mantis at the moment, but I don't know how much luck they will have.

I don't have any idea what species they might be able to order, or enen if they will be labeld correctly, so I'm trying to have a idea of what will be needed for any species they throw at me.

If I end up with somthing under 10 or 12 centimetres, I will keep it in an approprietly sized Eclipse tank.

If I end up with somthing huge like a O. scyllarus, will It have a chance of damaging a twenty gallon glass tank?

 

[Paul B]

I kept a 6" mantis in a 5 gallon tank for a few years with no problem.

 

[mattyice]

a large O scyllarus will have no problem going through a 20G tank if it wanted to, the key to have them not do that is a few things...

1. dont antaginize them from the other side of the glass
2. give them plenty of sand or a PVC burrow to live in
3. keep it happy with lots of healthy food

i still think personally that a 20G tank will be way too small for a peacock to live happily, sure you can put them in a smaller tank but would you want to live in a 5G tank that is barely bigger then you?

My peacock is housed in a 40G breeder tank and it will soon be divided and will house two peacocks in the tank, if you want you can search for "peacock mantis paradise" is the name of the thread i believe

 

[ryano]

that is very confusing. You dont think peacock mantis shrimp should be housed in a 20. You say its way to small for them, but you have a 40 gallon you are dividing so you can house two peacocks in it. So isnt that the same as putting a mantis in a 20 gallon?

 

[deboM3]

I think its not so much volume, but surface area that they can roam around on. I think volume is important too, but a 30 gal tall tank will not be as good as a 30 gal with more ground surface area.... I think, someone correct me if im wrong.

 

[mattyice]

the only reason the divider will be in is because there will be two O. Scyllarus (one male and one female) in the tank so i can observe the mating habits and get them to mate, other then that the divider will be out and it will be housed in a different tank...sorry i should of made myself clear

yes debo you are correct, it is more about the surface area that they can roam in, to tell you the truth if i could of found a decently priced 30G breeder tank around here i would of purchased it but i was able to get a 40G breeder for the same price, although volume does help keep the water much healthier longer, another reason why i purchased the 40G breeder...with how busy i have been i needed something that could go more then a week before i had to do a water change, now i have to tear my tank apart because i cant keep the algae under control because my peacock likes to kill off the cleaning crew in a mass killing style where she will go for a few days without food and will finally just kill about 6-7 snails eat 5-6 of them and bury the half killed one in the sand to enjoy for a late night snack