Mantis shrimp tank size?

[Dirt4dinner]

I have an option and am looking for your educated recommendations. I have an 80 gallon reef tank and have just bought a 15 gal. refugium that I am going to place on a seperate stand plumbed into the main display tank. This is going to be a display refugium with LR, LS, and macro algea.

I also just ordered a 3 gal. picotope from Live Aquaria that is going to go on my desk.

I am trying to decide which tank would be better for a Mantis Shrimp. I am most likely going to get a Peacock Mantis.

Here is my question. Would the 3 gallon be to small for a Mantis Shrimp? I am pretty sure the answer is yes...but I want to make sure. I would much rather have the Mantis in my office where I can enjoy seeing it more often than if it is in my living room in the diplay refugium. But I am not willing to sacrafice the Mantis' well being so I can see it more often.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[30mini]

If you want to get a peacock, I would get a 30+ gallon for him/her to be happy in!! They get big, and wouldn't be such a good idea to put him in a 15 gal. I wouldn't use the pico for any mantis, unless he is really really small! Use the 15 and get a smithii, or a wennera.

 

[Dirt4dinner]

I haven't heard of those varieties, but I will check them out. Thanks for the advice!

 

[danskim]

Well bigger is always nicer for any animal.
I keep my 4.5" peacock in a 29g refugium off my main display reef.

I think Dr. Roy suggests you can keep a smithii or wennera in a tank as small as a 20L (approx. 5 gallons).

 

[Dirt4dinner]

I think I have decided on getting a G. Smithii. However I can't find one on the internet for sale anywhere...and I highly doubt that a local fish store would be willing to locate one for me anywhere. Anybody have a recommendation on where to get one? Thanks.

 

[mattyice]

just try searching a bunch of livestock sellers on here and see what they have, if you would want a peacock it would need at least a 29G when fully grown

 

[saltwater4life1]

you could have a mantis in a 5g i'd think thats the smallest you should go maybe turn the 3g and get a 5g
check this out
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/rate-my-tank-saltwater/41585-ram-mans-5-gallon-cube-death.html

 

[mattyice]

that is exactly why its called a cube of death because it is slowly killing that mantis, try to give the creature something as close to its natural domain as you can, dr. roy said a 40G breeder tank only might be sufficient space for an adult peacock, im guessing a 20L or custom 20 gallon tank thats low and wide (alot of surface area) would be much better for any of the smaller species