Preparing for a wennerae

[Smithii]

I am going to order a wennerae soon. I need to know what environment is best for em. I have an 8G cube with a couple coral in it. It has 2 big pieces of LR (about 9" long) and a couple smaller pieces (about 5"). Should I leave these big pieces in there or offer up smaller pieces (2") or so for em?

The goby and such are moving to my bigger tank.

-Seed

 

[Pea-brain]

Looks okay. You'll want to offer more rubble (snail shell, small rocks) and maybe take one of the rocks on the ground and drill a beginning hole in it so he has a place to start from. That way you can also help choose where his burrow will be (though no guarentees he'll use it) unless there is another spot in the rock he can start a burrow? doesn't look too porous......

Dan

 

[DanInSD]

The new resident will probably start with the cave on the left. I agree with (the other) Dan's comments regarding rubble.

Dan

 

[Smithii]

So rubble. Are these pieces of LR maybe 1" in diameter? 20 pieces or so or are we talking crushed coral and small bits of LR? Sorry for the need for detail. I just want to give them what they need.

-Seed

 

[helipilot]

Yes, LR rubble less than 1 inch in diameter and then some even smaller pieces it will use for nooks and crannies. It will use some sand also.

 

[DanInSD]

A little of everything. Although, remember that a wennerae is pretty small! 1 inch is really, really large for a smaller mantis -- how often do you decorate with three-foot boulders? Take some of those one-inch pieces and bust them up a bit.

Dan

 

[Pea-brain]

And see if you can go to a local store and get a few shells for cheap. They are good for using as rubble & the mantis can break them up if it needs smaller pieces.....

Dan

 

[Pea-brain]

And see if you can go to a local store and get a few shells for cheap. They are good for using as rubble & the mantis can break them up if it needs smaller pieces.....

Dan

 

[Smithii]

ok thanks for the tips.

I now have one big rock and a lot of smaller rocks and a 2 to 3" substrate. I added some shells and some LR rubble and will let the tank run emtpy for a little while to clear out and settle.

Thanks again,

-Seed

 

[Smithii]

Ok. I moved some rock around with my bigger tank. Smashed up a couple pieces and added some shells in preparation for a mantis. I also increased the sandbed to about 2 inches. Does this look like a better environment? Thanks for all the advice and help.

-Smithii

 

[helipilot]

You
look perfectly ready to go. Very nice set up. good luck