Controlling Algae in Mantis tank

[paaschjc]

Since you can't put crabs and snails in your mantis tank without having them potentially killed, how do you control algae? I've got haird algae and can't think of a good way to get rid of htem. I've got 24W on my 12g nano with some GSP, xenia, mushrooms, yellow tailed damsel and a 4" G. glabrous. Any thoughts?

Thanks

Janina

 

[Docbones]

I keep hermit crabs in my tank and just replace them as needed. As far as snails my Smithii is about 4-5 inches and i have 3 good size turbos he tries but cant seem to smash the shells snails have been in with him for a good 6 months , and he only kills 1 or 2 snails a week.


And on the bright side is ...your in Waynesville ....Joe would love for ya to come in and buy crabs every few weeks =)

 

[paaschjc]

My problem with that approach is that I don't like sacrificing the snails nad crabs. I feed frozen seafood. So I'm looking for alternatives to the crabs and snails.

Janina

 

[travisurfer]

i think high water quality and a fuge would help. im guessing a big turbo snail would do best. let him eat the algae and then remove him if you dont want to let your mantis hunt.:rolleye1:

 

[Cruella]

i have three huge turbo snails with mine and he doesn't bother them at all.

 

[JmLee]

up your water change? reduce photoperiod?. Though these may not completely stop the algae, it may help reduce its growth?. Good luck.

 

[Thurge]

Its actually benificial to your mantis to have things to bash on. This helps keep its dactyls and associated musculature in good shape. They can be more like treats supplementing the frozen foods you have been feeding.
In answer to your origional question, your mantis should leave the big turbos snails alone.

 

[Uriel]

As Thurge said, it is important to give the mantis some live prey to keep in shape. If you don't like watching crabs killed, snails are a little better (no faces?), I suppose.

I wait until my mantis go to sleep and do cleaning. Most of them secure themselves in at night (Not peacocks, at least not mine).

Good luck...

-Ron

 

[Gonodactylus]

Keep the phosphates as low as possible by removing any left over food, molt skins, etc. and go with large snails, abs, hermits. One the stomatopod finds that it can't open them, it will give up.