Peacock tank in the making

[wanabebell]

Ok I am setting up my first mantis shrimp tank
I have a 29 gallon glass aquarium
I am putting down 2 1/4 inch plexy on the bottum of it
I want a peacock mantis, Odontodactylus scyllarus

I have about 20 pounds of live rock I have crushed into rubble so he can move these pieces average a little bigger than a golf ball
I plan on a 4-5 inch sand bed
any suggestions, comments,

 

[DanInSD]

Eh. Nothing major. Depends on the other co-habitants, especially re: lighting. Make sure it's not a thin-walled tank (although I know the chances of a break are really remote; I won't propagate that pseudo-myth).

I would add a PVC tube in the sand bed. The mantis would sure appreciate it.

My peacock's tank has lots of algae and such, despite a refugium and pretty aggressive water changes. Might want to take that into consideration and get a fuge in place.

I think a skimmer is a necessity in a mantis tank, both for nutrient export and water maintenance, but also for oxygenation. Your choice. At least have lots of water movement including one powerhead to "ruffle" the surface. I also recommend mechanical filtration with carbon and/or PolyFilter (TM).

Of course, a heater for the winter... Get a "Stealth" or a titanium header. Glass heater -> red LED -> [[WHACK!!]] -> [crack] -> metal poisoning -> dead mantis.

Have fun,
Dan

 

[Thurge]

Watch your lighting, Peacocks are from deeper water and therefor are addapted to a little dimmer lighting. Too much light and/or no place to hide from the light and they can develop Shell Rot. So either set your tank up with a normal florescent light ficture, or if you plan on some light dependant stuff, make sure you provide a piece of black PVC that is at least 2x as long as the mantis.

 

[wanabebell]

thanks for the suggestion
right now I have 30 watts of lighting on the tank (2 old reptile flouresents)
due to the my tank being glass I put in plexy glass today
I added a 1/2 to the bottom of the tank and I also put 1/4 inch around the side of the aquarium for the first 2 1/2 inches
I also added some of my live sand today I will be buying the rest tommorow hopfully
I also will be watching water quality to see if I need a skimmer. My caninster filter keeps the top water well ruffled
I plan on keeping the mantis by itself and also plan on feeding frozen food. but an ocaisonal live food offering for guests or when friends are around

 

[wanabebell]

Can I use an inline heater and hook that up to my canister filter too

also what size pvc any prefered shape
and how many I'm thinking a big U that leads to 2 different caves for him to enjoy

 

[wanabebell]

how big does the pvc have to be

 

[DanInSD]

Depends on the size of the mantis. Ack, I can't find the thread on the discussion I had with Dr. Roy.

The mantis needs to be able to do a "flip turn" in the tube. So, at least, say, 1.5x the width of the shell? My 4.5" mantis is more than happy (lots of room still) in her 2" tube.

Dan

 

[helipilot]

Ditto, my 4 1/2 in. Peacock is using a 2" black pvc u shaped tube. I made it from black pvc (2 pieces about 5" long each) attached to a 2"in. elbow. I got it all @ Home Depot for a couple of bucks.

 

[wanabebell]

ok thank you very much for your input

 

[wanabebell]

helipilot if you dont mind me asking how much did you pay for your peacock

 

[helipilot]

Wanabebell, I had to wait a long time to get my peacock, sometimes they are hard to find. If I remember right , he was $50 and I got him from Blue Zoo. He was worth the wait, 4" long, as thick as my thumb, and full of attitude.

 

[wanabebell]

ok I theirs a lfs that has one for 60$ and I just wanted to verify prices

and hes 3-6 inches
I think it may be a 6 inches

 

[helipilot]

Sounds pretty good. Check him out for shell disease, that he has both raps and what the LFS has been feeding him. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[wanabebell]

I might be goin there tommorow I trust the lfs they are always trustworthy
and their the only place i can get burgia nudibranch (my reef has aptaisa like nothing else)
but I will see
helipilot is yours in a glass aquarium??
would you mind posting a pic of your aquarium or if you want I'll give you my email in PM

 

[helipilot]

Wanabebell, My peacock tank is acrylic, I'm in the process of doing some remodeling in Pavon's tank, but will be happy to send you a picture when it is done. Send me your email address in a pm, as I have trouble posting pic's on this forum.

 

[wanabebell]

greatness im kinda scared of having 29 gallons of water on the floor one day