Just got an O. scyllarus

F

Faraday's Cage

New member
Hey everyone,

This is my first time at Reef Central.
I just ordered a mantis shrimp (O. scyllarus) from this website :D . I have a 20 gallon tank nearly set up (I just need to put in the water and buy gravel) and I was wondering if anyone here had any important tips about these (freakin' awesome) creatures. I was also wondering what pH level they should be at, how long I should run the tank before putting in the stomatopod, if there are any suggested water amendments (like Aquarisol or water conditioners) that I should add to my tank. Also, what is the ideal temperature for this animal within the suggested range (from the website I bought it from) of 72-82 degrees F.

Thanks in advance,
Faraday's Cage
 
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Why hello there! Welcome to RC and stomatopods!
Here are some nice sites to help you out:
http://www.mantisshrimps.co.uk/
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/

In terms to your peacock, a twenty gallon will be fine for awhile but you may need to upgrade to a thirty gallon or larger. You will get plenty of helpful information from other members, who have actually kept that species.

How much research have you done and have you ever had a tank before? This will help narrow down the answers to what you need to know.
 
I have had cichlid tanks before and I have read a fair amount about stomatopods but I have found nothing about recommended pH values. In my experience fish that are placed in smaller tanks do not grow to full size. Is the same true with mantis shrimp? I have a 55 gallon too, but my 20 gallon is already set up.
 
Once you got more settled in i would upgrade to the 55 or get a different tank. I have my peacock in a 55 and its great. I would get some live sand since your tank is not cycled, and you should let it run for a few days before the mantis comes if possiable your going to need the right bacteria cycle maybe add a fish now untill the mantis comes to speed up the process.
-Use low lights with peacocks.
Good Luck!
 
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Your tank should be properly cycled before you add an Odontodactylus scyllarus. Also, I hope you aren't using a fish tank that has been treated with copper. It would be lethal to a stomatopod.

Roy
 
Umm... I may have used an ich treatment ~15 years ago that contained copper salts. Is that what you are referring to? Is there any way to clean it out?

Thanks again,
FC
 
Yes, that would be a source of copper in the system. I'm no expert on metals in tanks. All I know is that copper and stomatopods are a bad mix.

Roy
 
Re: Just got an O. scyllarus

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15666089#post15666089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Faraday's Cage
Hey everyone,

This is my first time at Reef Central.
I just ordered a mantis shrimp (O. scyllarus) from this website :D . I have a 20 gallon tank nearly set up (I just need to put in the water and buy gravel) and I was wondering if anyone here had any important tips about these (freakin' awesome) creatures. I was also wondering what pH level they should be at, how long I should run the tank before putting in the stomatopod, if there are any suggested water amendments (like Aquarisol or water conditioners) that I should add to my tank. Also, what is the ideal temperature for this animal within the suggested range (from the website I bought it from) of 72-82 degrees F.

Thanks in advance,
Faraday's Cage
Click to expand...

That is what he is refering to.
Not that I know of but someone with some chemestry skills may know of a way of nutralizing the copper.

Howdy and welcome to the mad mad world of Mantis shrimp.

I was also wondering what pH level they should be at,
about 8.2 normal sea water Ph

how long I should run the tank before putting in the stomatopod
For a new tank I wouldn't put a mantis in for about a month. I would want to be sure that the New Tank Cycle was done, and that the tank had really stabilized.

Also, what is the ideal temperature for this animal within the suggested range (from the website I bought it from) of 72-82 degrees F.
Aim for the middle. The rage is th difference in day and night time empretures.

if there are any suggested water amendments (like Aquarisol or water conditioners)
Nope, not really.


With a mantis on the way here is what I would do.
Since the tank had copper in it I would get a new tank or trade with someone you trust, for a tank that has never had copper used in it. Copper is an insedious thing. It can stay around for a long time waiting for a Ph change. When the Ph changes it can cause a release of copper ( I can't remember which way it works; if it is a Ph drop that causes copper to be released or when the Ph goes up copper is released).
Also copper can be absorbed by calcium carbinate based stuff. Think Live Rock and Live Sand.
With the new tank I would get some CaribSea live sand. Comes in a bag with some water. Also get some FULLY cured Live Rock. When you find some rock you like ask how long they have had it in the shop. If its under a month I would keep looking.
Lastly I would search out some Bio Spira for marine tanks. Its the only "quick cycle bacteria" I have ever found to actually work.
Then test test test. With a mantis in a tank that I am unsure of the stability of, I would test at least once a day if not twice and if there is ANY ammonia or Nitrite, do a water change. Best would be if you could find somebody to hang on to the mantis for a little while.

I would also recommend picking up a copy of "The Conscienceous Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner.
Its a great book for the novice aquarist all the way to the advaced keeper.
 
ya'll posted while I was typing.
Its not the copper today that you should worry about the most. Its what could be slowly leaching out over time.

I can't say that the method you found won't work, but I would look for a process that will include chemicaly binding the copper to get it all out; above and beond polyfilters.


For the $30 - $40 that a new 20 gal tank costs I would call it money well spent for peace of mind.
 
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+1 on The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert M. Fenner. I've got it sitting on my desk right now, though there isn't much about mantis shrimp (p.409, about 5 paragraphs). There is a revised second edition which is the one I'm looking at atm. The retail price is about $70.00 but it's worth it. Very helpful if you are setting up a tank and getting into the hobby. I know there is a Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies , the recent edition is pretty good too, I believe edition 7. Zip on down to your local library to check it out.
 
Jackpot!
I just went to my LFS and got 18 gallons of CYCLED water (from their tanks), some tap water conditioner, and a siphon. I also dug up a 15 year old Eheim external canister filter, a type 2015, and verified that it works. I couldn't find any Biospira but I got both live sand and (one) live rock.
 
As far as a copper test goes, these tests are designed to test for copper at therapeutic levels, ie enough copper in the water to kill ich on fish.

They aren't useful for levels that could still be lethal to your stomatopod (or other inverts for that matter.)

Copper can be removed from a fish tank using vinegar, there are some discussions on the Reef Chemistry sub-forum here on RC that could help you.
 
Today I'm going to an aquarium store to get more filter medium.
Dactyl (I've decided to name him that) is going to arrive on Friday.
I did the vinegar treatment on my tank, and I think its going to be ok (the tank is 15 years old and I'm not even sure if I ever even USED a copper ich treatment in it).
 
Woohoo!
I just got the mantis and I set him up. I am working on getting a live webcam feed working and I will soon post pics.

I think I need a better burrow as she will not (only 1 hour after getting him) go inside it, instead preferring a large rock with a hole in it. Backwards. She is pretty amazing though.

Also, I did a couple of tests.

Here are the values (as of yesterday, before the mantis arrived):

pH: ~8.1
Nitrites: 1.0 ppm (mg/l)
Nitrates: 20 ppm (mg/l)
Alkalinity: 280 ppm (mg/l)
Temperature: 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit

I used drip acclimation to put her in the tank.

Thanks,
FC
 
Mantis is dead

Mantis is dead

:( :( :(
My mantis died last night.
:( :( :(

I want to understand why he died, and I have a few suspects.

1. My father decided to put Windex on the tank because "it was hard to see through the salt" (although he only sprayed a paper towel, and then wiped the front)

2. My mantis seemed to be molting, as she had a white, almost crusty line down her back and she only ate the first day (I put damselfish and hermit crabs in just to live and she still didn't eat).

3. I brought in a crapload of new rocks. Maybe some were contaminated with copper.

Also, I tested the day before she died; nitrites were 1.75 and nitrates were 35

Thanks,
FC
 
Dang, I hate to hear that. Hopefully this doesn't turn you away from keeping a mantis.

Also, I tested the day before she died; nitrites were 1.75 and nitrates were 35

Thanks,
FC
Click to expand...

That is probably your most likely cause. Nitrates at 35 was probably tollerable, but add in some Nitrites and good things aren't going to happen.
I think your root cause was rushing; not letting the tank really establish its self before adding your mantis. My advice would be to flip off the lights, if you don't have something in the tank that needs lights, and let the tank settle for several weeks before getting another mantis.
Stress could be another cause; it seems like shipping a mantis seems to induce a molt shortly after getting the mantis (it seems like a lot of people report their mantis molting shortly after they get it), and if it had molted rescently it may not have been able to handle the second molt.
 
Sorry to hear :( I got my first N. Wenn after having my tank set up for a month. The tank was cycled when mantis went in but after I started feeding him (prob too much) I got a mini cycle and got some nitrites and my mantis died. (Had it about 5 days I think). Probably was the nitrites. I waited a week, did a 50% water change and tested all params befor ordering another. New mantis has been here for almost two weeks now. I'm really cautious about overfeeding. I'm still on pins and needles. He's been sealed up the past three days, I'm assuming it's his post shipping / new tank molt. I've seen his beady little eyes sticking up over his door so I'm hoping all is well.

I'd wait until your tank is set up a least a month before trying again. Get a damsel and a few crabs to help the tank cycle and make it sonewhat interesting. I 'm also not sure about the lava rock. It could have leached something into the tank. I'd take it out and only use trusted rock . Tampa Bay Saltwater or SeaLife Inc are two good sources.
 
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