Proper home for a mantis

[hstanley70]

Hi all. Here's a question for one of the mantis experts out there. I've captured a number of mantis shrimp, so far all N. Wenn. species, from my TBS LR. Most of them have been given away, but I've kept one, which originally was in a 5 gal QT with reasonably good water quality, but not reliable as it had only a cheap Whisper carbon filter and an airstone and heater -- standard tropical freshwater starter kit.

In a moment of either stupidity or inspiration, I decided he would be happier in my chaetomorpha sump. This is a 20 gal. acrylic sump that holds about 2-3 pounds of chaeto macroalgae, which grows very well under a 150w incandescent plant light, with a heater, airstone and 300 gph pump for water motion. The tank was originally filled with water from my display tank when the nitrates were higher (water change), so the nutrient levels were initially high. Now with the chaeto nitrates have dropped, the extent that I'm about to start 'feeding' the sump just to produce nitrates.

All that detail was to ask the question: is this a good enough environment for a mantis? He seems happy enough buried under that algae with his PVC 'rock' to hide in and acrylic walls to thump now and again. But since the water quality in this sump is FAR inferior to the reef display, I want to be sure I'm not just slowly killing the little critter...

Regards,
hal

 

[serjuanca88]

If the sump is connected to the main tank. Then the water quality would be exactly the same.

 

[hstanley70]

Sorry...thought I mentioned: this is not connected to the main system. It was started with nitrate-rich water from a water change out of the main display, and it's water change water continues to come from the same source. (top-off is RO/DI, just as with the display...)

- h

 

[Ken2001]

inferior water qualities (high nitrates) can lead to shell disease and death of your animal. Sorry, but I don't know what constitutes high nitrates for a mantis - Since you say the water quality is "FAR inferior" to the water in your reef, I'd guess it's not good enough for your mantis. I'd try to keep the water quality for the mantis the same as for your display reef. In other words, I'd make up water for the chaeto sump just like for the display, rather than use discarded water from the reef for the sump.

 

[hstanley70]

Thanks much!