Peacock mantis shrimp.. companions??

[buki671]

i am new to mantis shrimps and have been doing my research.. I am currently thinking of getting a Peacock Mantis shrimp (O.scyllarus) either from my local pet store or manage to get one locally.. (I live on Guam, so the mantis shrimp i see in the stores are usually local caught)

anyways to the question.. i am currently setting up a 55 gallon saltwater aquarium, which i know is more than large enough to house a peacock mantis shrimp. 55 gallons would seem a waste of space with out some fish swimming around. so, could larger fish be safe with a peacock mantis? Say a lionfish? i am hesitant about eels, triggers and/or puffers.. Especially triggers..

the fish mentioned are all fish that i have cared for in the past.. so, i know that these fish are not good with ornamental shrimp and the like, but a peacock mantis seems the kind of creature that can hold its own..

or.. should i give up this idea and just make a 30 gallon or keep the 55 gallon as a mantis shrimp only tank?

all input would be greatly appreciated..

 

[Guygettnby]

it all depends on the mantis you end up getting. every mantis is going to be different, some will kill fish and inverts and then some will only kill the inverts. i have had 5 peacocks and out of those i have never had 1 kill a fish. they all used to be house with numerous types of fish in the past and currently my peacock tank has 2 different types of clown fish, yellow watchman goby and small file fish. not a single problem outa him so far. but i do have my doubts if the yellow watchman goby is going to be made into food or not.

your best bet would be to buy the peacock and introduce him into the tank with some damsels already living in it. just make sure to have the damsels in the tank for a few weeks so they are completely at home. so when you put the mantis in the tank the worst case would be you loosing a couple of damsels. but there will be no way of you knowing unless you try it.

 

[DanInSD]

I have tried a lot with my peacock. The only fish he will accept is a single yellow-tailed blue damsel. Chromis, and even a six-line wrasse, got destroyed. Likewise with an urchin (I've tried two of those).

dan

 

[Guygettnby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15079932#post15079932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DanInSD
I have tried a lot with my peacock. The only fish he will accept is a single yellow-tailed blue damsel. Chromis, and even a six-line wrasse, got destroyed. Likewise with an urchin (I've tried two of those).

dan

man, im starting to hear more and more people say they are having problems keeping fish with there peacocks.... i wonder if it is something i am doing differently then the rest that gives me such a good success rate....

 

[buki671]

thanks for the replies.. it's good to hear from people with experience.. i was thinking along those lines myself of introducing the mantis shrimp last to the tank..

i've been reading a lot of forums and stuff and from what i gathered.. peacock shrimp seem to be like other pets out there.. it all depends on the individual.. makes me want one more..

 

[Guygettnby]

they are alot of fun and very cool too watch. they will give you endless hours of entertainment! when you get everything setup post some pictures of your new setup. also remember not to use a high intensity light over this tank with the peacock.

 

[lionbacker54]

i would not keep fish. i've only kept one mantis shrimp, but he definitely seems to be cowed by the presence of my clownfish. if i could do it again (and i will), i would make a mantis only tank.

 

[buki671]

Guygettnby: i'll post up for sure.. right now it comes down to money (i'm a college student).. so i'm working on getting my equipment and building a sump..

oh.. and i heard about the high intensity light can cause something about mantis shell problems.. thanks again..

lionbacker54: thanks for the info.. how big is your mantis.??

 

[KDDG]

Well, this thread answers my question. We are setting up our new tank and got a regular mantis and a peacock mantis as hitchhikers. I think I just decided to catch them. I am not willing to risk losing any fish.

 

[lionbacker54]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15082869#post15082869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buki671
Guygettnby: i'll post up for sure.. right now it comes down to money (i'm a college student).. so i'm working on getting my equipment and building a sump..

oh.. and i heard about the high intensity light can cause something about mantis shell problems.. thanks again..

lionbacker54: thanks for the info.. how big is your mantis.??

i have a 1.5 inch g.smithii

 

[buki671]

just found a pretty good thread on this subject.. titled "Move Mantis to 72 /w lion/panther/humu".. other than the end of the thread where other members are going at it.. it's pretty good.. i should have read that before posting this.. thanks anyways to everyone who helped..

 

[Tangalong]

Can someone find the thread we did a few months ago on having tankmates? I know it was really funny and we all had a lot of fun with it. I will try to find .


---------------------

Curly

 

[buki671]

after speaking with one of my LFS to confirm the avalibility they are able to get me one locally, unless i get them myself, but the average size seen is 4-5 inches.. so.. i don't think that would mix to well with other fish when at that size.. so, i am currently looking to buy an acrylic aquarium.. i don't want to risk my glass tanks to chance... so.. most likely i will end up with a mantis only tank... which i am fine with.. thanks again to all...

 

[Tangalong]

buki671 did you read the thread above this one about the "Suicidal Damsel"? I found that for you so you can see how the reaction of the different Mantis' to different species of fish is so varied. It really does depend on the individual. It is a funny thread and we had fun doing it. Now if we can find the one on "feces" by Dr. Roy.lol

 

[Koshmar]

The one where Dr. Roy said there was a stomatopod that used it's excretements as a weapon to force another mantis out of its burrow?
Or the one where we talked about what stomatopod poop looked like?

 

[Tangalong]

I think they both should get excellent ratings right Koshmar??

 

[buki671]

Poop?? LOL.. now that i need to find.. i recently went through a lot of threads that had interesting titles.. and i did find the one on the suicidal damsels.. it really depends on the individual mantis... sharing a den for awhile.. that was unexpected... even wrasses entering and exiting untouched.. i really hope i get that kind of mantis shrimp..

right now i am trying to get an acrylic aquarium.. its just too much.. a 30 long for $280.. *sigh* Guam is just too small not enough competition .. hopefully next month.. more time to do research.. and this forum at reef central has been the most helpful..

 

[micstarz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15101709#post15101709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buki671
just found a pretty good thread on this subject.. titled "Move Mantis to 72 /w lion/panther/humu".. other than the end of the thread where other members are going at it.. it's pretty good.. i should have read that before posting this.. thanks anyways to everyone who helped..

Oops

Anyway, it depends on the personality of the mantis. I had a P. ciliata (spearer) that never bothered fish. But my peacock...well...watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRqp58wNW2U

 

[Koshmar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15111923#post15111923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tangalong
I think they both should get excellent ratings right Koshmar??

I think they should be stickied.

Hey, when I saw that qoute by buki671 about the aggressive tank thread, I was laughing my head off. It's ok Michael, don't be embarrassed, it was good entertainment. I have to get to a better computer to view that video though. Can't wait.

 

[Tangalong]

Me +2