N. wennerae in a reef tank

[Bortass]

I posted this in the TBS forum but thought I'd get some additional insight here:

I just started researching mantis shrimp and the ones found in TBS rock are one of the recommended newbie shrimp.

Have any of you just left the mantis alone in the reef tank and let things follow their natural course?

The tank itself is a 120. I don't have any definate stocking plans at this time.

I'm just trying to figure out whether or not to spend alot of time trying to find any N. wennerae that hitchhike in on the rock I ordered.

Of course the advantage of putting them in a separate tank is that they'd be easier to find and it'd be a good place to put any other unwanted hitchikers like stone or gorilla crabs.

 

[yiliyang]

Hey man, I got one of those shrimps. I got it from a really nice couple. Their Rock came from TBS. The shrimp is really cute and small, around 2 inches.

I feed it mysis shrimp or just chucks of marine meat. It can only take out the smallest snails. I have seen him take a whack at larger snails but he did not do any damage. He is too small to kill any fishes.

When he was new in the tank, he explored a bit, now days he just sit in his hole and rarely comes out. I think you will be fine leaving him in there. Wanneraes does not eat corals.

The couple I got him from says he did eat barnacles and tiny clams on their live rock. If you don't mind that, he will be fine in your reef.

Good luck, I really like mine.

 

[roader247]

I'm pretty sure they will hunt and catch your fish though Good Luck

Mark

 

[justinl]

small smasher mantids (like your wennerae) will generally leave fish alone even if they may take the odd whack at them in defense of their territory. Fish are usually too large/fast/feisty to make a good prey. Benthic fish like gobies may be at risk but in a large tank they will have no problem staying away from the mantis.

don't keep any large fish that will eat crustaceans like puffers or triggers (whic aren't reef safe anyways).

I think you will love having a mantis in your reef. Contrary to popular belief small ones are semi reef-safe. Just make sure that all frags are well glued down to pieces of LR or something that the mantis isn't capable of moving. They're like the bob villas of the sea, always redecorating and renovating. Supply it with small bits of LR (pea sized) to use to make its burrow. Try to target feed if you know where its burrow is. if that's too much trouble you could always just let loose hermits or small snails.

 

[Agu]

After over four years my n wennerae is pushing 4" long . It can easily crack the shell of any snail . Their diet is pretty indiscriminate, if it's a small invert or fish it'll be lunch eventually.

I think it's safe to say you'll be supplying and endless buffet to a mantis in a large community tank.

BTW, mine is in a 5 gallon and I'd have to tear down the tank to get him out.

Obviously imo you need to move it to it's own tank.