Need help setting up mantis tank

[antigood007]

Hello all,

Ive decided i cant take it anymore and i have to have one of these buggers. They are so cool. Im thinking of getting an eclipse 6 or 12 or a minibow. I have my lfs watching for a mantis for me, which tank do you guys think would be better, mini bow or eclipse. Also, how do you guys keep them from smashing the heater. Is there a special brand that you guys buy? Is a sealed top a neccesity? I wouldnt want to wake up to a mantis staring at me if you know what i mean:eek1:

How deep of a sandbed should it have, etc. etc. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Also, what lighting requirements do they have if any.

 

[Kara]

the 6 or 12 mini-bow or eclipse would be a great tank for some of the smaller mantis'. If you are looking at keeping an O.s. you should probably house them in a larger tank as they get pretty big.

Smashers aren't burrowers like the spearer type mantis' are. My smasher lives in a hole in a rock. He will tunnel under the rock sometimes but always returns to his rock house.

If you want to be set for either type of mantis, I would provide a mix of sand and crushed coral as substrate, 2-3" in depth to start with. You can always add more of the cc/sand mix if you get a spearer. Put some LR in there for the mantis to either tunnel under or live in. Pick pieces that have some nice deep holes in them. Smallish pieces (1/2" or smaller) of live rock rubble and shells are decorative and good building materials for the mantis. Add some micro hermits, larger hermits and some snails after the tank cycles and you are ready for a mantis!

I have a brittle star, a BIG green emerald crab, an orange flower anemone and a Velvet Damsel that live with Roy, my mantis. He's not powerful enough to kill and eat the large emerald crabs and he leaves the damsel alone. My other smasher mantis ate Damsels like candy.