How Long Can He Live?

[Fishy1]

My daughter has a beautiful peacock mantis shrimp named "Oscar." She has had him for 2 1/2 years in a 20 gallon tank. Does anyone know how long they can live in captivity? She's hoping to have him for a long, long time........

Thanks for the info,
Fishy1

 

[Gonodactylus]

In the field, we don't have good data for O. scyllarus, but my best guess is 5 years or more. Other species live much longer.

In the aquarium, O. scyllarus don't do that well and it is rare to find one that has been around more than two or three years. Assuming that your daughter got the animal when it was an adult (> 3 inches) and that it doesn't show signs of shell disearse, I don't see why it wouldn't last another couple of years, but probably not much longer. Hope I'm wrong because she is obviously doing all the right things.

Roy

 

[Fishy1]

Thanks for the reply, Roy Oscar was an adult when she got him and so far he shows no sign of disease......I'll pass the info on to her tomorrow......lets hope for at least another two years!

Thanks again,
Janey

 

[Madmonkey]

I had one peacock mantis for about two years, grew from about 4.5 to almost 6 inches.

now I have a new peacock at about 3.5 inches

good luck to you

matt

 

[Fishy1]

Thanks, Matt.....Oscar was about 4 inches long when she got him and about 6 now.......really a sweet guy, not aggressive at all I've got a female green mantis that is about 2 1/2 inches long that is a real brat!LOL!!