Nano Tank with a Mantis?

M

MonarchzMan

New member
I have been wanting a tank for my office for some time, but have limited space on my desk, so I've been toying with the idea of getting a Fluval Spec 5 gallon aquarium and doing a nano tank. I've been going back and forth between a mantis tank and a small shrimp tank, but I think I'd like the former.

I was thinking of getting a G. smithii, but given that I don't have experience with mantis shrimp, I guess I have a few questions about it.

I'd like to have a bunch of zoas and mushrooms, which I'm guessing are okay with a mantis? Would G. smithii be okay in that size of a tank?

I've read that there is potential (although it seems quite rare) that a mantis could break the glass. I assume that it wouldn't really be an issue with this species?

Is there anything in particular I should have in the tank to accommodate the mantis? I would probably have the following:

LED lights (bright enough for softies anyway)
2" or so sand bed
Live rock
Heater
Powerhead

Thoughts?
 
G.smithii is perfect candidate for nano tank, not only are they small but their exceedingly tough and the consistent water parameter fluctuations should not phase it one bit (they are not immortal/invincible so they still need maintenance), I keep ALL my small species in 'compartment' 30-40L, this is all species equal to or less then 100mm (smasher or spearer).

I would be asking how thick the glass of the nano is ?

Sand bed or not your mantis will NOT care, smashers cannot 'manipulate' sand to build a burrow like spearers do, they need larger rubble IF you want to give them that (since large rubble can also become a nitrate hot spot from clogged/caught food/waste build up).

Heater is also something that can be skipped depending on the rooms overall temperature, I live in Australia I have NO heaters on my systems (saving coin :D).

Mushies & Zoas are your best bet, their the toughest basically (and a few others) but you picked them for that likely so your aware.

Having said all this....as I have said to others FOR NOW (oh that's such a clue...) you cannot really pick and choose what you want...you can only get what is available when it is, you can order things but well that is going to be risky whether you get the species you want....FOR NOW.... :D :D
 
Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize that smashers wouldn't dig like spearers.

I think I'd get a heater just in case because our building can be rather variable in temperature, and a heater would just be a back up.

I'm not sure what the glass thickness is. I've read anywhere between 1/8" (3.1mm) to 3/16" (4.7mm).
 
Another question regarding G. smithii. I've seen some videos that have some fish and peppermint shrimp in with the mantis. Would this be okay or is it entirely going to depend on the size of the mantis I get? I wouldn't mind having some sort of goby or cleaner shrimp for the tank.
 
I had a peppermint shrimp that lived with my N Wennerae with no issues and then it lived with my Peacock for about 6 months until the mantis decided it was food.

It's going to depend on the size of the mantis and it's personality. As with any mantis tank, don't put anything in the tank you aren't prepared to lose. You'll also have better luck if you add the shrimp and fish to the tank before the mantis. Gobies may not be the best choice of fish in a mantis tank since they live on the bottom. Damsels seem to have the best success in mantis tanks for some reason.
 
Adetia said:
I had a peppermint shrimp that lived with my N Wennerae with no issues and then it lived with my Peacock for about 6 months until the mantis decided it was food.

It's going to depend on the size of the mantis and it's personality. As with any mantis tank, don't put anything in the tank you aren't prepared to lose. You'll also have better luck if you add the shrimp and fish to the tank before the mantis. Gobies may not be the best choice of fish in a mantis tank since they live on the bottom. Damsels seem to have the best success in mantis tanks for some reason.
Click to expand...

This, but in a 5 gallon nothing at all except the mantis should be in it. 5 Gallons isn't even enough for most if not all gobies.
 
Good to know. I may try a cleaner and/or peppermint shrimp in the tank while I wait for availability of G. smithii. Worst case is I move them to my 29 when I get the mantis.

Would it get to the size where it could kill a turbo snail? I'd probably put in a couple of those just to help with clean up, but it would seem to me with the size of them, that they would be difficult for a smaller mantis to take out.

Any suggestions on lighting? I was looking at the Currant USA Orbit as it has a low profile, and seemingly should be good for softies, and maybe some of the easier LPS. I'd just really like the coral colors to pop, and I'm not sure the blues will do that (my friend has one for his 55, and the corals don't pop in color as much as they do in my 29 with an EVO 100).
 
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it MIGHT take a turbo snail, depends on the size of snail and size/appetite of the mantis... as said above, dont put anything in the tank you are not prepared to have trashed or eaten. if its well few is likely to leave them alone but it might not...
 
My mantis always dig their own burrows under the live rock in the sand in a 8g tank. My current mantis (just got him a few days ago, not sure of species yet) dug three different burrows out under three different pieces of rock and sort of moves between them for now. I don't think he's decided which one he likes best yet.
 
I just got my G. smithii today and put him in the 5g. He seems to have found a decent hole in the rock to set up camp. He's been collecting rubble to decorate his home.
 
Don't be surprised if the little mantis molts which would mean you may not see it for a few days, if this happens you must not disturb the animal during the molt, 7days would be a safe bet I'd say before you should start looking for it.

Practically all of my Mantis molt when I get them and turn them over from bag to tank.
 
Good to know. It has been somewhat scarce the last couple days. I've tried feeding him a little bit, which he willingly took the first day, but hasn't since.
 
He seems to have straight up disappeared. I saw him on thursday, but then went out of town until sunday. I came in today to look for him, and can't find any sign of him. It's only a 5 gallon tank so there are only so many places a 3" mantis shrimp can hide. Should I be concerned or is this just normal behavior?

When I first put him in, he picked a spot the peppermint shrimp were using, and the peppermints moved out. Today, the peppermints are back in the original hole, which leads me to think they're not sharing it with a mantis.
 
It has a hood. The only spot it could have gotten out is the back where there is a 2" gap that allows for wires and such. But there aren't any salt deposits or anything like that that would indicate it getting out.
 
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