Looking into a Mantis Project this summer

[Raibaru]

Hey guys, I've currenty got a 36g tank set up for about 8 months or so now and I'm planning to start 1 or 2 projects over the summer. I've got plans for a small sear horse setup and a seperate mantis set up. However, the mantis set up will have to be in a 10g or less tank since it will be going on my computer desk and worried about the weight destroying the desk etc.

The mantis that has caught my eye is the bright yellow variety that I see posted from time to time here. Unfortunetly, I don't know the species name which makes it difficult to look up on the resource stickied at the top of this forum.

Could you guys point me to a good beginners resource or book for mantis owners? I'm trying to hit a time frame of setting up the tank over the summer and have inhabitants in it by August. This leaves plenty of time for research and the like.

So I guess the big questions I have are:

1.) What species of Mantis Shrimp are the "banana mantis shrimp" and do they keep their rich yellow color throughout life, or does it change as the mantis molts?

2.) Will most mantis thrive in 5-10g enclosurse that are species tanks with just softies and the mantis?

3.) Open top ok or do mantis go for a swim? I've seen these tanks in a the LFS recently that have water flowing over their lids into a basin surrounding the tank and I'm thinking about going with one of these as a "zen garden" type approach. But last thing I want is a mantis on my desk and such.

But that's it for now. Once I find some species names for some beginner mantis (and the banana mantis specifically) I hope I can do more research from there and check back later on for more specifics.

Thanks guys.

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

i believe the species u are after is P.Cillata (sp?)

 

[Pea-brain]

The name of the yellow mantis is P. ciliata. You can look it up in roy's list (theres a sticky at the top that has a link to it) It is a spearer type mantis, which means that any fish in that tank could easily be food. The suggested tank size fore one is 20 gallons. They get just short of 4 inches. They come in many different colors and patterns and often change with their environment. According to Dr. Roy they turn yellow in environments with lots of hiding spaces and lots of colors (They advertise themselves because they can afford to in an environment where they can easily dart away) I have a 2" ciliata in a ten gallon and he is still yellow even though there aren't alot of colors (various shades of purple from the coraline, green from the macro-algae and white from the sand) He has molted twice to date. It seems yellow ones are the least likely to change. They burrow under rocks. I would suggest at least a 3" sand bed with some nice sized (length and width. doesn't need to be tall) rocks. a small common mantis that fits in a ten is a N. wennerae. It is cheap at 10$ plus 40$ shipping at tampabaysaltwater.com and doesn't need a very deep sand bed. ust a rock to make a hole in. It smashes things so only thick shelled snails like turbos will survive. But it can be kept with small fast fish, though it may kill them, it isn't likely.

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

i agree with pea-brain, get a N. Wennerae they own all other mantis species ive owned(this is my first) but they are really cool im just watching him now. i wouldnt get fish to go in with him though cause even though he might kill them he will be less likly to come out and have in-depth conversations with you about Bush, oil, the war, and the justice system so i like my tank without fish, i have tried it both ways, just me though

 

[Pea-brain]

BTW I forgot, They have been known to jump out of their tank w/o hoods. A small Gonodactylid could clear quite a bit of air if it wanted.

 

[Raibaru]

Ahh, well this thing will be on my desk that is next to my headboard for my bed. Last thing I need is a mantis to launch itself on my forehead while I sleep.