Mantis for 2.5 reef

[phergus_25]

On nano-reef.com we started up a contest to sustain a 2.5 gal as a reef. We have had alot of intrest so thats cool. But my question is two parts and they go like this:

Is there a mantis that will be happy in a 2.5 gal tank. Water parameters will be fine, H2O is from my well established tank. But I'm just worried about space.

Second part, would the mantis, if it even exists, be safe with my coral. I know the dont mess up corals on purpose but would there be much chance of him moving around rocks after his initial "settling in" period.

Thanks
-greg

 

[DragonFish]

No, no mantis is good for a 2.5. [jedivoice]I am not your competition in the contest.... this is not the shrimp you are looking for[/jedivoice] Just kidding. Yes, there are several species that are small enough, you can get them from Tampa Bay Saltwater. I'm pretty sure they are safe with any coral.

 

[phergus_25]

h aha hey man whats goin on, Iv checked out your tank its lookin good. I think that a mantis would be pretty awsome, I assume whats what you were thinkin?

 

[Wiggawam]

Could we get some scientific/common names for these guys? I'm not doing the competition but I have a little 2.5 spliced into my main tank.

 

[leaffish75]

N. wennerae, possibly a G. Smithii

 

[fras]

Check out roys list (stickied at the top of the forum), Recommended tank size per species is in the info.
N. wennerae will be the most suitable of the commonly found mantis I think..

 

[phergus_25]

thanks the search begins to find a mantis

 

[DragonFish]

I picked up my Pseudosquilla ciliata last night, she took right to her new home.

 

[Hutton]

i would put a wennerae in there. be carfull if it is a 2.5 aga. very thin glass!

 

[DragonFish]

And my P. Ciliata is finding a new home friday. Just a bit too damn big for a 2.5. I'm switching to a pistol shrimp. Good luck on your search!

 

[Uriel]

I'd say a G. viridis would be fine as well.

Dammit, how come everyone else gets P. cilata, but none for me?

8 mantis and counting...


-Ron

 

[Jacob D]

What do you guys think about G. chiragra in a 2.5 gallon? I just picked up a pretty fat one, about 2 1/2" long. She looks a little big for the tank.

 

[Hutton]

ooo hells no! a chiragra! those are the biggest gonodactylus! right behind peacocks in brute strength! the saying bigger is badder applies to these guys! your guy might get up to 4 inches.

 

[Jacob D]

Yeah I was a little nervous putting her in there. I had a G. c. before but she was only about 1 1/2" long. This one is pretty big in comparison. At the pet store they had her in one of those little breeder containers and she tore it up pretty good, but so far seems content in the new home. I don't think they grow too fast, 4" is pretty big I have never seen a G. c that large!

Maybe I'll try to find another home for her and keep searchin for a little guy.

 

[Hutton]

just see how it goes. she might do god in there.

 

[Opcn]

Don't risk it, if your tank crashes after the cutoff you aren't allowed to rebuild it, and since tighaboys tanks look much better than any tank may out of burbur ever will you should try to stick to smaller species IMO