My N. Wennare w/some pics

[rsteagall]

I've had my mantis for about 6 months now in a jbj 12 gal nano species only tank. I've yet to do a single water change and only dose some reef complete and some kent essentials every 2-4weeks. Also, I've only had to add topoff once to the tank during this time. The nano cube does a great job with evap. My GSP and zoas tell me when I need to dose and I only test for salinity. She seems to be a healthy and happy mantis with plenty of attitude. I feed about 2x per week with frozen plankton/krill. She lets me know when she's hungry when she gets more active and starts exploring the tank more. Yesterday I introduced the first feeder guppy. It took all of .5 seconds to smash it and take it back to her burrow.

Here are a few pics:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rsteagall/Mantis_tank


-Ryan

 

[Angela Short]

The link doesn't work for me???

 

[30mini]

copy and paste it

 

[rsteagall]

I fixed it just for you Angela .

 

[miztic]

wow great shots, very unique aquascaping, very cool

but uhm .. no water changes in 6 months? and you don't have nitrates building up or anything ?

edit: guess the cheato in the back takes care of that well enough ?

 

[luscien]

tank

tank

awesome mantis! the piece of potery was genious, and way kool to boot!!! i have a simillar deal, i have a large gargoyle in my tank. but i like your idea much better!
luscien

 

[rsteagall]

I'll run a full spectrum of tests on the tank tonight since I never have and my post seemed to spark this interest. I'll let you all know my params in a bit.

 

[rsteagall]

20060921 params

ph = ~8.4
ammonia = 0ppm
nitrite = 0ppm
nitrate = 0ppm
sg= 1.025


I'm actually amazed/amused at my params considering going 6 months without water changes. All I do is trim back the cheato about once every 6 weeks when it starts growing outward from its lil container of egg crate.

 

[miztic]

nice params, not bad at all for no water changes

the aquascape is still awesome

 

[Frostyeel]

I really like your aquascaping, the pot seems a little out of place at first but after looking at all the pictures I decided it works quite well for the mantis and looks cool. Even if all of your testable paramaters are fine you could do an occasional water change just to replenish trace elements, but if everything is working fine as it is I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Jordan55]

I like your aquascape a lot. The pot in there is neat. I have a question though- how do you know your mantis wouldn't burrow in the back of it. I am worried that if I put some rock or something in the middle of the tank, the mantis will make his burrow facing the back. That is why I just have a wall of rock on the back side of the tank. It is pretty lame, but I am nervous I would hardly see the guy if I did something like you did.


Good job though! Keep it up!

 

[rsteagall]

I've noticed that more often than not a burrow will have 2 exits/entrances. She goes inside the pot sometimes, but not much and only for a few seconds. I think she realizes there is only one way in and no escape route.

The tank is between 2 computer monitors on my desk at home and I sit to the left of the tank. I've noticed wtih a mantis, as with all animals, choose the path of least resistance. She has one burrow under the zoa rock and one under the neck of the pot. The zoa rock is arched in exactly the two places she has 2 entrances/exits. The neck of the pot is hte same way. I'm limiting the available places for her to hide, so she is usually quite visible. She does like to get back in the cheato and play as I stated before too.

If you plan right, I think you can basically tell the mantis where the burrow will and will not be by providing a path of least resistance. I've planned it so I can see all burrows from the left front corner of the tank. The only one I can't see fully is the back of the pot, but I can see clearly inside the pot if she goes in there.

 

[AVALover5498]

Off topic a bit...Miztic are you into farscape? GREATEST SHOW EVER....Anyway.....lol

 

[rsteagall]

My mantis sure loves her guppies!

 

[30mini]

Mollies are better for her if you have them acclimated to SW! You can even start a breeding colony in another tank, or the same if you get large enough ones!

 

[miztic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8218321#post8218321 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AVALover5498
Off topic a bit...Miztic are you into farscape? GREATEST SHOW EVER....Anyway.....lol

not to derail the thread too much I'm definately a big farscape fan, too bad they canceled it..

on topic: I keep reading that freshwater animals make a bad food for sw predators, does that still count after the mollies are acclimated to sw?

 

[rsteagall]

I think of the guppies more as a treat than anything, I still feed the frozen plankton/krill. Yes... what would be the difference between a molly acclimated and a straight fw guppy?