mantis+fish=?

[chilyb56]

Hi - I'm wondering what people's experience is with keeping a mantis with fish? More specifically an N. Wenn. florida mantis. I've got a tomato clown - who I am not so worried about - and a lawnmower blenny - who I am more worried about - in a forty gallon. Both are about 3-4" long. The mantis who is currenltly in a nanocube is about 2". I would like to somehow combine the tanks because it's hard to maintain them both with my current work schedule

 

[30mini]

I think that in a large enough tank that the two should be able to co-exist. Seein that an N. Wenn doesn't get very big, and the Blenny gets to be just as big as the N. Wenn, I really don't see a problem with that. The two should be fine together, IMO...
Dr. Roy, if you want to chime in at any time...please feel free!

 

[Crawling68]

You never can tell. I bought a damsel for my Ciliata as a treat, and she no intrest in it...............yet.

 

[travisurfer]

I am going to get a damsel for my mantis to play with.

 

[chilyb56]

Yeah i realize there is always going to be a "you just don't know" factor. I have enough hermits in the 40g to preocuppy the mantis - I'm just worried about the blenny since he sleeps in the rocks. He is at least twice the size of the mantis though

 

[30mini]

I think that the mantis will be more afraid of the blenny with it being larger... but, like you said, there is always that "you just don't know" factor! Keep the mantis pre-occupied with the hermits and snails, and he should keep his belly full enough to not go after the blenny... hopefully

 

[travisurfer]

Feeding the mantis (seperating two words to avoid confusion) shrimp every other day will help.

 

[30mini]

maybe you should say "feeding the mantis A shrimp every other day will help"

 

[travisurfer]

that would work too. its been a long day.

 

[thor32766]

i have had my manits with three damels for over a year and never had a problem. They interact all the time.

 

[Flusher]

I picked up a 1.5" three-stripe damsel to go with my 2.5" G. smithii last night. They're sharing a 6 gallon cube. Both survived the night, though the damsel doesn't look too comfortable. Chances are, it's still settling in.