What do you think? For smaller mantids? I could see putting them all on one sump. 
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?aquariums100&1109896321
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?aquariums100&1109896321
mantis condominiums?
- Thread starter LisaD
- Start date
crzy4reefs
New member
well i would keep them seperate or they will fight. also do you know what kind of mantis you will be keeping? some require different size tanks. other than that the system looks good
pisces77
New member
I am building a "mantis hotel" out of a 55g (3 compartments). 6.5 gallons is small for even a ternatensis, so I'd say nothing that gets 3"+ for those compartments. Also, it said the were only 8 or 9 inches tall. Not much room with plenty of gravel or sand (mantis shrimp love to dig). Also once you put a light source on top, that only leaves a very small viewing space. I'd build your own, it doest take that much more effort and you can build it to your exact specs.
Good points. I'm not sure, but I think this guy builds them himself. They can be drilled for a common sump, and the dividers made as flow-through. I'll bet he could make them to specs.
So, if you were designing an acrylic "mantis hotel" and you weren't constrained by the dimensions of a 55, how would YOU design it? I'm intrigued with this compartment idea, and I like the acrylic construction.
So, if you were designing an acrylic "mantis hotel" and you weren't constrained by the dimensions of a 55, how would YOU design it? I'm intrigued with this compartment idea, and I like the acrylic construction.
pisces77
New member
Well, the compartment size would vary by what type of mantis was intended to go in it. for mantis shrimp that get 4" or less, I'd probably use something like 15"H x 15W x 12"D. For larger Mantis shrimp like a peacock, it's more like 18"H x 24"W x 18"D.
The 55g hotel I have been building will be split into 15/25/15 gallon sections. Two smaller smashers for the outside, one larger one for the middle.
The 55g hotel I have been building will be split into 15/25/15 gallon sections. Two smaller smashers for the outside, one larger one for the middle.
rwhhunt
New member
I really like this Mantis Condo/Hotel idea!! In these Mantis Hotels, do the mantis's come to the glass and communicate/interact with each of their neighors??? I think If I had to design one, I would use a circular tank of 2-3 foot radius, with each tank ending in the center (something like the mercedes emblem). You could vary the radians between the compartments if you had different size/species. Then install a central sump, and all of their caves/burrows in the central corners made out of PVC covered in LR, and then have about 8-12 inches of open sand/aragonite for them to explore and meet their neighbors!(this way if you have three they could all interact, assuming that seeing other mantis shrimp near their burrow doesn't stress them out!) Maybe Ill draw up some blueprints... Does anyone have any experience manipulating/bending acrylic to a round surface as described????
