My Ultimate Multi Mantis System(s)
- Thread starter Kharn
- Start date
animalmaster6
In Memoriam
This system is awesome!
DO you have a FSS or full system video?
DO you have a FSS or full system video?
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Nice pics, and awsome movie. Still jelous about your setup
Glad your enjoying the thread, I am sure your not the only one that is jealous.... =D
I knew you would like it =D lets hope this thread doesn't get split =D
The only way people are going to truly understand these animals is if there truly shown them and that is one of my aims here. I am glad your enjoying the thread please continue to do so as I intend to update it daily to keep it fresh and interesting!
Glad you like it so much =D I do not have a full system video as of rite now however there are full system photos further back in this thread. I will get a full video of the system at some point =D
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Thank you all for your wonderful comments
It's what boosts me to continue pumping out pics / vids. =D
Cheers
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Are you referring to me personally as to why I cannot keep a H.californiensis ?
If so, it's simple (but strict) it's illegal to import inverts into Australia.
End (I cannot really obtain "overseas" species like H.cal).
TundraGuy
MantisOholic
Not to step on your toes Kharn by answering this for Johanv.
The reason it has been put out as an impossible critter to keep has more to do with the requirements for its care. You’re looking at an animal that is cold water (this is a challenge for most hobbyist). It lives in mud (another challenge). For the most part when setting up a tank for this type of animal you want to set it up in a way to keep it healthy and content in its home, and this is not most peoples driving force behind keeping live stock in a glass box. Most people want a glass box filled with strange and interesting critters, but do not want to spend the time/money to do it to match the natural environment (as much as possible). I have been in this hobby long enough to see the trend of I will get this now and upgrade latter for the animals. This in most cases does not happen. It usually goes like this, get a smaller tank under filter it over stock it and not keep up with the WCs. Then latter down the line the person finally upgrades but by this point the person has figured out what type of animals they are really wanting to keep then build this newer system to handle the new specimens and the old ones die or get traded away due to them not matching the new tanks needs. When you take all that into consideration who wants to keep an animal you see only 5% of about 10% of the time in a tank set up like Kharn’s system of substrate exclusivity? This is why Kharn’s system is so impressive he sets up the tanks to meet the needs of the animal first, then the ability to view/photo/video them. He did this in such a way that he is not limited to one type of mantis. His only hold back really is temperature. With his advent of stand D even these factors have been overcome.
So you see it has more to do with having the willingness to providing the animal with all its needs over the conventional rock wall and bright lights. Kharn’s in new waters showing new people just how amazing mantis shrimp really are. This is why I take my hat off to Kharn. “YOU’RE MY BOY BLUE!”
The reason it has been put out as an impossible critter to keep has more to do with the requirements for its care. You’re looking at an animal that is cold water (this is a challenge for most hobbyist). It lives in mud (another challenge). For the most part when setting up a tank for this type of animal you want to set it up in a way to keep it healthy and content in its home, and this is not most peoples driving force behind keeping live stock in a glass box. Most people want a glass box filled with strange and interesting critters, but do not want to spend the time/money to do it to match the natural environment (as much as possible). I have been in this hobby long enough to see the trend of I will get this now and upgrade latter for the animals. This in most cases does not happen. It usually goes like this, get a smaller tank under filter it over stock it and not keep up with the WCs. Then latter down the line the person finally upgrades but by this point the person has figured out what type of animals they are really wanting to keep then build this newer system to handle the new specimens and the old ones die or get traded away due to them not matching the new tanks needs. When you take all that into consideration who wants to keep an animal you see only 5% of about 10% of the time in a tank set up like Kharn’s system of substrate exclusivity? This is why Kharn’s system is so impressive he sets up the tanks to meet the needs of the animal first, then the ability to view/photo/video them. He did this in such a way that he is not limited to one type of mantis. His only hold back really is temperature. With his advent of stand D even these factors have been overcome.
So you see it has more to do with having the willingness to providing the animal with all its needs over the conventional rock wall and bright lights. Kharn’s in new waters showing new people just how amazing mantis shrimp really are. This is why I take my hat off to Kharn. “YOU’RE MY BOY BLUE!”
Kharn
MANTISMAN
The spearers are by far my favorite species :lol2:
Even though the large ones are a lot less inter active, I personally think that adds to there 'creepy' nature whilst the others (smashers / smaller spearers) are a lot more inquisitive and 'cute', the big spearers are kind of 'horrifying' lol.
Speaking of horrifying :lol2: here are a couple of pictures from a particular feeding this evening...(with its video to follow just uploading).
What is it like to be buried alive & at the same time...have your face eaten ? Since Morgoth has made a large window in his compartment beneath the sand, it has enabled me to capture him on camera deep inside his burrow, this is some of said footage.
Pictures taken within 10-15seconds after prey captured.
As I said video is incoming however there is no below sand level action on the video as he didn't do much but munch the face of the fish.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Thank you for such kind words =) originally when I did my reading I thought that the temperatures were going to be my biggest problem however that may not be the case, whilst Bathysquilla requires 5degrees celcius and Hemisquilla australiensis requires anything from 10degrees - 20degrees celcius....it shouldn't be that hard to main temperature, not hard (as in just finding a big enough chiller) expensive, yes. Worth it? HELL YEAH!! :lol2:
One thing I need to do before anything at all, is talk to local trawlers etc and describe the stomatopod along with provide pictures too see if they catch them, if they do they will likely instinctively recognize them something that isn't "picked up by hand", then its just a matter of a big phat "bribe" lol... in order to keep a live one with there next finding off one.
Thank you for your comment again :lol2:
I just hope to see more in the future and inspire those watching
cheers :wavehand:
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EDIT: My biggest concern rite now with STAND D (beyond acquiring the animals to fill it) is actually the substrate...I really want to do mud, as to my knowledge that is what they need and have in the wild, however I don't know mud (period.) and as far as acquiring the vast amount needed...well, I would only collect from the wild as a last resort (mostly due to contamination), even then I am still uncertain about how mud would go in a tank that has virtually no light 24/7...I do not know for certain of the environment 1000m-1500m below the sea surface.
I'm not sure how mud would react in a tank that has no light on it...(since every mud I have seen for sale is for plant/refugium growth and every mud I have seen used (including wild collected) has had light or some light cycle on the tank (usually for mangroves) something I can NOT do, not even a refugium for it (has to be connected remember...you ever heard of a refugium at 5degrees celcius! LOL).
So yeah...MUD! I'm gonna use it but I want to know about it first!
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Kharn
MANTISMAN
I have come up with a way to upgrade STAND A, B & C whilst not actually utilizing a sump...
By basically utilizing in tank protein skimmers I can still get there use, the skimmers I speak of are the Tunze types, its a good brand (not the very best....which I don't need) and there protein skimmers will actually blend in well with the tanks rear and sides (being a black rectangle). I will only utilize 2 Tunze protein skimmers (undecided on size) as I plan to use my Deltec MCE 600 for STAND C due to it being a hob and having virtually no internal parts, it should easily hang on the back of a STAND C tank.
I also plan on attaching a few (1 per stand) TLF Reactors which I can pack full of a good useful media like Phos remover or something similar. Plan on upgrading my current lights (corals aren't liking it) to some Eshine Cree 4G's (the 12x3W CREE types there small 15cmLx15cmW) I plan to have 1 above each compartment for STAND A (so 6) and 2 slightly larger ones for the top tank of STAND B (24x3W CREE types there 30cmLx15cmW).
By doing it this way I can actually have it done A LOT quicker....(think by next weekend if not the following for sure).
By basically utilizing in tank protein skimmers I can still get there use, the skimmers I speak of are the Tunze types, its a good brand (not the very best....which I don't need) and there protein skimmers will actually blend in well with the tanks rear and sides (being a black rectangle). I will only utilize 2 Tunze protein skimmers (undecided on size) as I plan to use my Deltec MCE 600 for STAND C due to it being a hob and having virtually no internal parts, it should easily hang on the back of a STAND C tank.
I also plan on attaching a few (1 per stand) TLF Reactors which I can pack full of a good useful media like Phos remover or something similar. Plan on upgrading my current lights (corals aren't liking it) to some Eshine Cree 4G's (the 12x3W CREE types there small 15cmLx15cmW) I plan to have 1 above each compartment for STAND A (so 6) and 2 slightly larger ones for the top tank of STAND B (24x3W CREE types there 30cmLx15cmW).
By doing it this way I can actually have it done A LOT quicker....(think by next weekend if not the following for sure).
TundraGuy
MantisOholic
Look up the Oregon Coast Aquarium back a few years ago I would say 99 or 2000 they had a kelp and other cold water algae display. One of the things they show cased was the rate of growth they could attain even in such cold environments. So to answer this question I have seen one. :wave: I put no limits on what you're crazy Aussie *** will come up with.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
I still need to put a lot of thought into this stand but your words are intriguing
....maybe I could make some kind of DIY kelp refugium out of one of those large IBC 1000L containers, which I could connect to the tanks, perhaps one IBC per tank (since the tanks themselves won't be connected to each other due to the various temps). Not only would the IBC tanks have plenty of room for the kelp to grow (at least as far as kelps swift growth goes, fastest growing plant on the planet isn't it ?) but it should also help provide for much more stable environment... like Dr. Caldwell mentioned
"What makes "mud" suitable for stomatopods like Hemisquilla are the "contaminants"! The mud has structure from worm tubes, rhizomes, shells, etc. Washing these out puts the particles into suspension and makes it impossible for stomatopods to build a burrow. On the other hand, in an aquarium setting, the organic material will start to decompose fouling the system. You need a LOT of water in a large sump to buffer this."
As I said more thought but yeah I do not like to limit myself in anything to do with these critters =) (keeping in mind there requirements) I am basically at a point in my life where I am not held back...single, own home, full time (secure / family) job, no "responsibilities" lol I know it sounds like I am bragging but "logically" if I don't do it NOW...I may not be able to in 10-15yrs+ due to wife/family/other commitments.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
30mins before its to late :lol2:
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Being "Friday the 13th" today I thought that whatever kind of good footage I captured during a feeding I would edit into a Friday The 13th / Jason Voorhees style theme. As I am a fan of Jason (rather then freddy) I though it was fitting, personally I really like this video and think I did well, make sure you watch it till the very end
<iframe width="800" height="600" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PfuscR7-3pM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hope you enjoyed!
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Being "Friday the 13th" today I thought that whatever kind of good footage I captured during a feeding I would edit into a Friday The 13th / Jason Voorhees style theme. As I am a fan of Jason (rather then freddy) I though it was fitting, personally I really like this video and think I did well, make sure you watch it till the very end
<iframe width="800" height="600" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PfuscR7-3pM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hope you enjoyed!
ValleyDude
New member
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