Mantis in 5.5 gallon

[beetlejuice]

I would like to try and keep one of these guys in a 5.5 I have laying around. I have an Aquaclear 150, extra southdown, can get a few pounds of live rock and a heater. Is this sufficient? What should I use for lighting?

 

[ADHybrid]

hmm....I would think that they would need a bigger tank. I have a Gonodactylus smithii and I keep him in a 12 gallon eclipse with a few pounds of liverock with crushed coral substrate. Maybe if you got a tiny one??

 

[Gonodactylus]

The issue is water quality. Most stomatopods under about 4 inches can life happily in a 5 gal tank, but it depends on how you maintain good water conditions. Stomatopods do not need strong lighting. In fact, if they can't stay in a dark burrow or cavity, they often develop algal growths that can be fatal. You will only require strong broad spectrum lighting if you decide to use live rock. I keep many of my animals in 2 gal. glass tanks with a thin sand/gravel bed, a couple of pieces of coralline algae (species that do well in low light) and run a Fluval filled with crushed coral. I make frequent water changes and keep the animals away from direct sunlight. They do very well under such conditions.

Roy

 

[Fishiebusiness]

How compatible are mantis shrimp with soft corals?