I want to be a Mantis owner...

[Argent]

Having been interested in the few videos I've seen and having talked with some mantis owners - I was wondering about keeping one.

What is the smallest size tank they should have? (if they are the only inhabitant other than rocks and maybe some corals) Do they require a DSB? How often do they need to be fed, and wheres a good place to get snails/crabs for cheap (can't imagine feeding the mantis $2 hermits or snails) or what other options for feeding them is there?

Thanks in advanced..

 

[30mini]

Check out Roy's List at the top of this page. That will answer all your questions about what size tank, what they eat, and everything else. As far as other things to feed them, you can always get krill, silversides, fresh shrimp, things of that sort

 

[travisurfer]

you've been caught! Seriously though, like I said before shrimp soaked in a vitamin additive is good.

 

[Thurge]

Tank size is a little subjective, and a little mantis. Some mantis like the Peacock will out grow a 10 and as it gets larger will have the ability to crack the glass. Personally I would tell you that anything under 10 gallons is just asking for problems. Others will tell you about how they have kept Mantis long term in Eclipse-6's, and smaller. The reason I say 10 gallon is that the smaller the tank the faster things go bad when "IT" hits the fan. Heater gets stuck on, filter gets cloged, rotting food...

 

[travisurfer]

He was looking for these:
Gonodactylellus affinis
Haptosquilla glyptocercus
Those arent really the same as a peacock.

 

[Argent]

Yeah I was looking for one of the smaller basher species -- although the peacocks are beautiful looking -- I don't know if I can keep one in a 5.5 gallon. (I could go with a 10 but then I'd need to buy all new pumps/lights etc and I'm trying to re-use what I have)

 

[Crawling68]

If at all possible, i would not go with less then a 10g. Yes i have an N. Wenn in a 6g but i dont like it. It is at my fiances work, under supervision 24 hrs a day, so i let her slide with that.

 

[30mini]

I have my mantis in a 20 gal tank, along with a 6 gal sump/fuge system. This is hard enough to keep, and I am constantly monitoring the water params. to make sure everything is okay in there for walter and his zoas! Go as large as you can with this, even though mantis can be small, that doesn't mean you have to get a small tank for them! The bigger, the better!!

 

[Argent]

I don't like bigger tanks -- I'm quite happy with the upkeep on my 5.5 gallon, my 3 gallon, and my 1 quart tanks

 

[30mini]

That's your preferance. But remember, that some mantis do create a lot of waste! A water change may be necessary more than you do now for a tank that small with a mantis in it.

 

[Argent]

Fair enough -- I do weekly water changes on the larger two tanks and every other day on the quart tank. I appreciate the heads up.

 

[Argent]

Good news -- found a guy locally who has one. If his wife will let him get rid of him.

Unsure of the type, but he is and and been for about 6mos around 1" in length. He is bright green and a smasher. He is not pickey and likes small peices of krill or big peices of mysis or even tiny pieces of table shrimp. He gets one peice every couple 3 days.

As for price... I didn't have to pay anything, so knowing he would be cared for I wouldn't ask anything.

 

[Argent]

Unfortunatly the guys wife won't give up the little guy -- but he did offer me his 4-5" peacock mantis for the same price -- unfortunatly I don't have a big enough tank to keep him else I would.