Multi Mantis Keepers

[Kharn]

G'day all

I was wondering if I could hear from the people who keep multiple stomatopods and how there setups are, its just that I am about to do a setup for multiple mantis shrimps all below the 100mm size and was wondering what the best way would be to go about it, obviously the mantis shrimps need to be securely separated from one another to prevent fights breaking out.

Curious as to how others go about this, do you have a large tank then divide it up safely with like walls of acrylic sheeting or do you have each mantis in its own setups, its just that being less then or equal to max sizes of 100mm there housings need not be that large as I have been reading on Dr. Roy's List website.

Cheers for any help you can provide!

P.S. Pics & Links to existing setups would be good and greatly appreciated and if this subject has been brought up before a link to the thread would be greatly appreciated too!

 

[cfsindorf]

Search mantisville for mine. 6 ten gallon 2 55 gallon and a 75 gallon sump

 

[Kharn]

Search mantisville for mine. 6 ten gallon 2 55 gallon and a 75 gallon sump

WoW there very nice and that is exactly the sort of thing I am thinking about creating albeit starting smaller rite now...I have drawn a very brief description of 1 stand that houses 3 tanks which is separated into 3 compartments.

I have based the tank builds around the species available because here in Australia we cannot ship in live animals without permits and even then its hard...having said that we have A LOT of mantis shrimp species within our waters!

Most however are on the smaller side of the scales tilting around the 50mm-100mm size range according to Dr. Roy Caldwell "Roy's List of Stomatopods for the Aquarium" because of these small sizes I have opted to go for minimal sizing in housing for the mantis.

Essentially each compartment holds 20L of water volume for each mantis to live in peacefully there are 3 tanks separated into 3 containment areas via 2 acrylic sheets in each tank evenly divided, the dividers will be black acrylic sheets with small holes drilled in them to allow water flow from each compartment, the acrylic will be tough/thick enough to be 110% secure from mantis attacks, same goes for the overflow and one getting in it.

This gives me access to 9 small 50mm-100mm mantis shrimps (per stand) in neat tidy spaces and providing that the good Dr. is correct they should all live happily in the amount of room provided!

Brief sketch of a stand


I haven't thought about filtration really yet...any hints, at the most I would likely have 2 stands a.k.a 6 tanks at around 72L e.a. = total water volume of about 435L!

P.S. I would likely offset a sump somewhere convenient for both stands to hold any filtration + all the plumbing inlets and outlets etc.

P.S.S. The stand will be made from hollow steel, I'm a steel worker by trade and this particular steel holds TONS! so no worries there...

 

[cfsindorf]

Your biggist issue will be the height and distance between the tanks. I like space and do not want to get a ladder to work in top tank. I was going to go to 3 rows but did not because of that.

I also tripped total gallons and run it on half the electricity. Went LED for lights and big pump. Mantis do not need bright lights so my lights are there really for viewing and NOT coral growth.

 

[Kharn]

Your biggist issue will be the height and distance between the tanks. I like space and do not want to get a ladder to work in top tank. I was going to go to 3 rows but did not because of that.

I also tripped total gallons and run it on half the electricity. Went LED for lights and big pump. Mantis do not need bright lights so my lights are there really for viewing and NOT coral growth.

G'day cfsindorf =)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

One of the reasons I have gone for a tight fitting and rather HIGH/TALL setup is because I myself am quite tall standing at around 6'5" MY problem is these stupid builders making the roof inside houses too low...and whats the deal with cars too! :lolspin:

As far as lighting goes I really have never been sure about whats the best yet dimmest kind of light you can get for a mantis tank since in general less light is better, the diagram lights are just there to show that space will be made for a light/removing of THAT tanks lid(s).

I am still thinking about the overall setup of things, wether or not to keep my current DT which houses corals and the L.mac or to 1/2 the tank with an acrylic sheet, remove all coral and all the sand from 1 of the halves, then put the L.mac back in the side with sand, and have a O.scyl in the other area without sand that I would of replaced with a bunch of LR....

Thinking Thinking Thinking...lol running out of floor space haha, because I was "liberal" with the current DT setup interms of the space it took up xD

 

[King Nikon]

If possible your best bet is to get one of those big gray 300g bins for a sump. They are awesome if you have the room. Whenever I get the money and room to upgrade to my tank I'm definitely going to go all out and get one of these for a sump and one for a big refugium.

 

[Kharn]

If possible your best bet is to get one of those big gray 300g bins for a sump. They are awesome if you have the room. Whenever I get the money and room to upgrade to my tank I'm definitely going to go all out and get one of these for a sump and one for a big refugium.

I have thought about that and seen it before too but it makes me wonder i a sump that large would be worth it for this intended setup...having said that I don't think I will start this next project till I am done tweaking my current tank because the current tank will have to go to make room for the next project!

Essentially what I want is a WALL of tanks size of tank matches size of mantis within, I've got about 5mL and 2mW and 2.5MH to work within =), the main part of the project is crisp neat representation because the tank I have at the moment is my rough pipes here and there and bulky things here and there sorta setup real "ugly" lol.

Not too mention the current tank I have was built when I was 14 so it was matched to my HEIGHT back then, too look into my tank I need to sit on both knees which gets annoying.

In all seriousness....I prolly shouldn't of even started this tank xD....but rather buy my dream tank off the get go but, I wanted to educate myself with something cheaper first so this is working fine for now =)

Cheers