mantis shrimp.........

[canman]

Hi guys,

Just wondering about the behaviors of mantis shrimp and reef compatibility. I heard that they will totally destroy a reef. From what I've read, they even eat hermits. What can you keep with them????




I appreciate your response

 

[Gonodactylus]

Only larger smashing species eat hermits and snails the size that would be used in a clean-up crew. Spearers cannot break snail shells.

 

[jchough79]

I have had my Mantis in my 25g reef tank and he is about 1 1/2 inches long and he has taken out four of my blue leg hermits. He is a smasher type but very fansinating. I have noticed him searching around the tank and collecting small pieces of rock and empty shells and pile them in front of his new home at the base of my rocks. I'm guessing he is closing it off to reduce some of the light in his den. Then again the empty shells could be him wanting more hermits to come looking for a shell. Who knows??? All I can say is I can't wait til I get his new tank complete!!!!

 

[ReefMagic]

I have 2 Neogonodactylus Wennerae in my 72g Reef. I see both of them everyday and they don't bother anything.

 

[Ken2001]

One of the top LFS' I know of (CRA in Seakonk, MA) keeps a N. wennerae in one of his display tanks - it obviously hasn't done any major damage and is pretty cool to see peaking out.

Ken

 

[JeremyR]

I'm surprised you saw it. I don't even see it often. I know where it lives tho

 

[sacs4010]

I think...

I think...

I think it depends. If you are going to do a reef tank with fish in it, then I would stay clear of the spearing kind. If you do not mind replacing some cleaner live stock (nails and such) every once in a while, then some of the smaller smashers would do just fine. What do you all think?

Bradley C Sacs
Bellevue, WA

 

[Eduardo]

I just moved my aquarium to a bigger one, once I finished the aquascaping I realized I got two mantis (they are from the caribbean), I have not a chance to take a picture yet, I not sure if they are couple or brothers, because both are in the same hole at the middle of the aquarium, I never saw it outside, I think they are about 0.4 inch lenght from what I saw, maybe smaller than that. My question is Should I worry? the aquarium is a reef tank with a couple of big maroon clown (not move it yet), 3 green chromis (not move it yet), 2 pepermint shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp and a couple of cleaner fishes from the caribbean (not moved it yet). From all the live stock, I am worry with the couple of cleaner fishes because they are small, about a inch long.

I ask this question here, because if I do in the main forum I will only get NO, are you crazy, etc. I read several histories, horror and no horror, however my LFS keep a couples of mantis (big) in the display tank, and I never hear from them about horror histories. I agreed that some hermit crabs and snails can be in dangerous but the fishes or the shrimp will be? And let me clarify this I am not asking about keeping these animals, I am asking if I should worry right now or I have time to catch them, or in meantime they can be eaten by any others of inhabitant of the tank.

Thanks,
Eduardo
Venezuela - South America