can i have a Mantis shrimp

[Fuegofish777]

hello everyone,
i have a weird question. have any of you every kept a mantis in its own tank. i've done some research about them and i absolutely love them. how big of a tank would i need? and what kind of setup would one require?

 

[cwbroden]

I have not personally done that, but I have seen many people that have. Someone will hopefully post their specs soon.

 

[Fuegofish777]

i hope they do....i've heard of people doing it, but i dont know if they were successfull. and i just wanted to know what i would need to have one.

 

[OctoRock]

Re: can i have a Mantis shrimp

hello everyone,
i have a weird question. have any of you every kept a mantis in its own tank. i've done some research about them and i absolutely love them. how big of a tank would i need? and what kind of setup would one require?

I assume u mean in something like a species tank? Yes, people keep them in their own tank. Just search around this forum a bit. You would not need a very big tank at all. IMO they will be happy in anything larger than a 12 gallon. As far as what kind of "setup" just remember this, alot of people keep them without even trying to or wanting to. Also, as im sure you know, know fish, crustaceans, snails etc.... HTH

 

[Fuegofish777]

ya im familiar with their hardiness....im soryy im new to reef central....HTH????.....i think u mean sumthin about not having them in their. yes i know they will be slaughtered

 

[OctoRock]

HTH=hope that helps. Check out the list of acronymes (sp?) link on the homepage.

 

[Fuegofish777]

thank u OCTOROCK!!!

 

[Fuegofish777]

anyone else have any helpfull info on keeping a mantis
i was wondering if the 12 gal nano cube would work. just because it come with everything built in........i can get a hold of a realy small one like 2 or 3 inches

 

[OctoRock]

Here ya go http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

 

[dont ask]

why not check out the mantis shrimp forum on reef central

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=37

 

[milhouse74]

You can easily get away with a nano cube from what I understand. Right now I have a mantis that is 3/4 of an inch in a 5 gallon mini-bow.

I will end up with him in a 10 soon. My 10 is about to be emptied into a 55 gallon this weekend (or I am beginning to setup the 55 this weekend to move in 2 onths or so).

 

[Agu]

Here's my mantis tank, it's where there would normally be a refugium in my sump. You can see the mantis to the far left...


http://montipora.com/agu/imagepages/P1010024.htm


btw, this really belongs in the mantis forum if you want feedback.

Agu

 

[majestic sea life]

i have a N. wenn in a 10gal its happy i give it a turbo once in a few week he eats frozen krill shrimp or what ever i give him

 

[M.Dandaneau]

The biggest problem with your question is the term "mantis shrimp".....this isn't AN animal, but rather a whole family of animals that run from about 1/8" inch to over 18" and have at least 2 specialized methods of feeding.

It's like saying "puffer", which can mean a small species, like a 3" sharpnose up to a giant like the Stellate puffer at 47".

There's a whole forum pertaining to JUST mantis shrimp, which I saw the link to given above.

Mike

 

[Fuegofish777]

ya i posted there and nobody answered
....and im sorry, your right...i didnt put what kind of mantis, i put it in my other posts but not this one, i was reffering to a clown mantis, which i believe is a smasher...or maybe something smaller, but the clown would be my biggest choice.

 

[M.Dandaneau]

The funny thing about mantis shrimp is that you either love them or hate them, with most reefers in the latter category, and me in the former.
If you get on good terms with local LFS you'll be amazed at how many are happy to GIVE them to you.
I set up a 40 gal. with lots of LR and had 4 peacock mantis shrimp, each with their own burrow, territory, etc. and got to watch the mating process (they carry eggs on the swimmerets just like other shrimp) and found out that many smashers will completely ignore all fish except those that INSIST on shoving their heads into the burrow in an attempt to have a crustacean lunch.
When THAT happens, they cut loose....but as horrid as their reputation is, I've seen small pistol shrimp dispatch BOTH other fish AND mantis shrimp.
While the mantis shrimp packs more punch per wallop, the pistol shrimp has the advantage of not needing to actually make contact, but actually shoots a shock wave ahead of it!

 

[polymorphus]

I have a 3.5 inch G. Smitti in a 2.5 aga and he seems happy as can be... having said that I am not to sure how you would judge how happy a mantis is... humm

- g

 

[M.Dandaneau]

One thing about mantis shrimp is that they are usually extremely inquisitive...some are bolder than others, but most at least have to peak out of their burrows at the least sign of disturbance.
Once they've gotten used to you, they'll usually take food readily from forceps, etc.
Many of the hammerers are more difficult to feed than the grabber/spearer types, as it's not uncommon to find specialists who prefer snails, mussels, crabs, etc. and are extremely hesitant to feed/attack anything else.
My first was a Peacock mantis shrimp in its own 29 gal. tank.
Imagine my surprise when the live feeder fish put in as food thrived and grew!

Mike

 

[Fuegofish777]

thats funny

well thanks for all the help guys, i'll see what my LFS can do, one of my friends works there, so i should be able to get somthing, all i need to do now is get ahold of some cash.....any ideas???

 

[M.Dandaneau]

On getting some cash?
a second job, washing cars, stealing the kids allowance or working a corner on week ends is about all that comes to mind!

I KNOW what you meant, but that one was just too good to pass up!

Mike