Mantis Shrimp Yay or Nay

[DGlove904]

Mantis Shrimp Yay or Nay in a saltwater tank

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

umm well they wouldn't survive in a freshwater tank, depends on how big your tank and how big the mantis is.

i have a 20H with a mantis thats about 2" 1/2" long and i love him he hasn't killed anything in 2 months

 

[snorvich]

Great if by itself, not so great if it has neighbors.

 

[Harley Fish]

i would say yes

a mantis isnt like a fish in many ways.They have so much more personality they really are a great addittion to a tank.

 

[DGlove904]

my tank is 110 gallon

 

[reefworm]

I'd vote no, if it's not a specimen only tank. they're very efficient killers.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/sheila_patek_clocks_the_fastest_animals.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu6yrC6bjNo
http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/04/21_shrimp.shtml

from the first video, you can see how remarkable they are - I assume it's why you're asking about keeping one, but also why you can't have anything with it you plan to keep. yes, they do creep up on fish and whack them. perhaps a nano with liverock?

 

[DGlove904]

I have any empty 29 gallon I might drop one in

 

[bspstang]

I vote NA

I got one from a piece of coral I bought. It killed 2 clowns and 1 tang in under a week.

 

[HaywoodJafragit]

I vote nah too unless you have Damsels

 

[DGlove904]

i was thinking about keeping him in a seperate 29 gallon tank

 

[djmurray]

NA, remember these guys brake glass with their pichers so watch out...

 

[DGlove904]

oh wow you think they can break through a tank has that happened to anyone before

 

[KarlBob]

I've read that they can break glass many times, but I have not seen it happen, or seen video of it happening.

Apparently, the "smasher" mantis shrimp are better known for cracking glass than the "spearer" type. Supposedly, acrylic tanks are safe from either variety.

 

[ser_renely]

I don't think they could break the glass, unless it was really thin and the mantis was a large smasher....even then.

All depends on what you want in a tank, I think they are awsome.

 

[Tswifty]

Species only two thumbs way up... :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I believe the only tend to break glass when burrowing... even then it is rare.

If you're worried, you can silicone a piece of HDPE grade starboard (cutting board) into the bottom of your tank before you add your sand.

 

[DGlove904]

Ok sounds good I cant wait to get him. A local reefer is giving him away, so any day now I will have a new addition.

 

[DGlove904]

can you keep more than one in a tank