Feeding a mantis shrimp

[CoMMaNdeR]

Hello,

I never kept mantis shrimp because I always liked more reef aquariums but this week I have introduced into my nano aquarium a Peacock Mantis shrimp (3 inches)

What should I feed him and it is dangerous to put my hand in the aquarium to arrange some rocks ?

Thanks

 

[Pea-brain]

Keep an eye on the mantis, and were gloves if you can. Be very careful, and if you get stabbed get into a hospital quick. Marine infections can be impossible to kill if they take hold, and you may have to amputate in a worst case scenario. I've only heard of that happening to a surgeon in australia however.

I don't know how small your nano is, but if its not at least 20 gallons it won't hold it too long. Are you sure its a peacock?

Feed it frozen marine flesh such as squid, shrimp, krill etc. etc. try to soak it in a food supplement like selcon once a week. Feed every once every 2-3 days and feed live foods such as snails and hermits at least once a month, preferably more.

Dan

 

[pimpinitup6969]

what else is in your nano? hopefully nothing you wish to keep? lol. mine eats ghost shrimp, krill, crawfish, crabs, etc. i wouldnt really say dangerous to put your hand in there but painful fits..... theres not much of a reason to really arrange your rock or anything anyway bcus the mantis will re arrange it very quicky
Matt

 

[NickTheViking]

Use a feeding prong?

 

[CoMMaNdeR]

Thanks for your replys. It is a 12gallon nano tank, with some liverocks, some coral frags and caulerpa prolifera. I made a tunned with PVC under the sand and it seems the mantis liked it because went there immediately.

Why minimum size is 20g? If I do weekly water change and keep an eye on parameters it is still small a 12g?

Thanks

 

[Pea-brain]

peacocks aren't like spearers, just sitting in their hole all day and coming out to grab some prey. They are active animals that spend a large amount of time roaming their territory, hunting, and renovating their territory. Also, they can get over 7" in length, assuming it is an actual peacock. For that size tank I would recommend G. smithii or N. wennerae.

Dan

 

[CoMMaNdeR]

Thanks for your reply, I am sorry but I still did nt got the reply and so I ask again. Why it is recommended to have at least a 20g? Is it to provide more room for the animal or is an issue of water quality?

Thanks again

 

[gholland]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11785500#post11785500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CoMMaNdeR
Thanks for your reply, I am sorry but I still did nt got the reply and so I ask again. Why it is recommended to have at least a 20g? Is it to provide more room for the animal or is an issue of water quality?

Thanks again

Everything Pea-brain just said about them roaming and growing up to 7" is why at least 20 gallons is recommended. Actually, I thought the recommendation was closer to 30 gallons... ?

 

[justinl]

I actually agree with greg on the 30g after seeing the way my O.s. uses almost all the space in the 60g i have it in; 20g might be a bare minimum that should be avoided if possible imo. But yeah tank sizes are based on size, activity, and how messy a mantis is (very, for an O.s.).

 

[KafudaFish]

I have had a peacock for about 1.5 years and I feed a variety of frozen foods but most often thawed raw shrimp. You can get a pound of the medium shrimp at the grocery store for around $4 and that will last several months.
As far as putting your hands in the tank yes keep an eye on the mantis when you are moving rocks or cleaning. If you want to move rocks around, feed the shrimp in a different part of the aquarium and then work.
Also for the last 6 months I have been hand feeding my shrimp. I know this goes against the norm but I could not find my bamboo skewer one night and have never had a problem. The shrimp is an intelligent visual predator and it can distinguish the difference between a food and my finger.