Mantis shrimp tank set up: Tankmates yay or nay ?

[CZ08]

Hello all,

Good to be here, tis a great forum filled with infos about the Mantis Shrimp.

I will be hopefully setting a 60-70 gallon 100cm(L), 40cm(W), 2-3 foot (D), tank for mainly a mantis shrimp and some other fascintating creatures.

I have a few qs, if anyone can advise :

Q.1

Must one use an external filter?

Q.2

Is a sump required?

Q.3

Would it be or :*( if both fat puffer fish and small mantis were together?

Q.4

I would like to add the following with me mantis :

2x SCOOTER BLENNYS

2x OF CLOWNFISH

PAIR OF MANDERINS

A BEAUTIFUL REGAL/BLUE TANG REEF

1x BANDED SERPANT STARFISH

2x GREEN HEADED FEATHER DUSTER

I would like to add one big fish with beautiful colours into this tank but me thinks that it could be hazardous ? Any opinions?



If I put all the above with me small mantis around 8cm long ... would they all go together in harmony or would it be like the big bang ?

Many Thanks for your patience.

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

none of the equipment you mention are really required, a good HOB and a power head will be good enough,

as for other live stock it's really hit or miss depending on the type of mantis (how large it will eventually get, temperment)

a puffer and small mantis? probably not i think the puffer might try to eat it.

as for the other fish it really depends on the mantis, i have a scooter blenny and lawnmower blenny in with mine with no ill effect

1st though 1 60-70 gal will not support 2 scooters and 2 mandarins they both eat the same food "pods" . unless you can somehow ween them off them which is nearly impossible.
clowns should be fine, TANGS get way too big for a 60-70gal.

starfish??? dunno

big feather dusters?? i dunno sounds like a potential new cave for the mantis

 

[CZ08]

VacavilleFC3S you are of most helpful with your well detailed answers.

Now let me see ... what is this HOB and powerhead?

Do you have any pics/vids of your aquarium.

hmm .... this is all very interesting.

 

[spectrascott]

HOB is Hang on Back of the tank filter. I am using ione in my small set up for my little mantis.

I would think if you are wanting alot of livestock a better filter might be in order. I just have a small mantis and a cuc for dinner Just replace as they disapear.

 

[TrappedMetal]

You would be better off setting up a small 10 gallon tank for your mantis and do your fish seperatley mate. You will probably eventually want corals too, which the mantis may steal and smash up.

 

[J2FcM]

There are a lot of variables, so just at least BE AWARE that you're risking your animals lives, and your money.

The puffers like to chompy chompy stuff... so, replace the vids of them biting goldfish in 2 (on youtube) with a mantis shrimp. BUT, it IS a mantis shrimp, so should he decide to fight back you might just end up with 2 maimed or dead animals.

The little fish are at risk of course, mandarins and alll that.

Clowns might be ok, I've seen tomato clown with Peacock Mantis.

Sharkdude sold me his G Smithii (3.25 inches) and she had previously killed every fish he put with her. I've had a Blue Damsel with her for almost 2 weeks, although when I entered her into the dank the Mantis smashed her side. I keep the Mantis fed every 3 days too, so a lot of variables might have resulted in my Smithii become more "fish friendly".

 

[CZ08]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13279362#post13279362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spectrascott
HOB is Hang on Back of the tank filter. I am using ione in my small set up for my little mantis.

I would think if you are wanting alot of livestock a better filter might be in order. I just have a small mantis and a cuc for dinner Just replace as they disapear.

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Thank you for this magnificent suggestion, this idea of a filter is great. It saves me being fingerless YES !

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You would be better off setting up a small 10 gallon tank for your mantis and do your fish seperatley mate. You will probably eventually want corals too, which the mantis may steal and smash up.

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You are a genius! I never thought of this absoloutley brilliant idea. Simply marvelous! I will take your idea and make it a reality.

oh the thought of having both puffer fish and mantis shrimp in our home ... astounding!

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J2FcM do you like BJ pens ? I want him to batter GSP xD


What do you think about Handys comeback against Brock eh ?

It should be a cracker !

 

[J2FcM]

I am fine with either BJ or GSP winning... while I like both of them a lot, fighting each other doesnt emotionally grab me (since I favor niether one). I guess I just hope for a great rumble, and will go with BJ since he has a bit more personality beyond being super nice.

Randy's thing is cool, I like the fight, I want him to win because I am not the biggest Lesner fan... someone I will end up "loving to hate". Not a fan of laying and praying, so I'll like Lesner when he begins smashing people more. A lot of ppl are disappointed in Randy for suppossedly caving in... but heck, who wants to fight in court for over a year? Circumstances change and so must he.