PVC home for mantis, need some advice.

[Scuba Dan]

Is there a certain shape I should build? Straight, U-shaped? What size PVC piping should I use? Do I even have to build a home for the mantis with PVC? I would like to keep the tank looking as natural as I can. I had a 2.5" PVC setup in my eel tank and never liked it. I'm still in the planning stages. I hope to find a Peacock Mantis. His, her new home will be in a 24 gallon AquaPod. If you have some PVC home pics you would like to share, please do. Give me some ideas.....

 

[kookerson]

Just posted some pics of my new Peacock.....I used 2" pvc, and made a U-Shaped burrow for him......I originally wanted to bury the whole thing under the sand so that the PVC wouldnt show, but I dont have a deep enough sand bed. Anyways, she is is doing a good job at covering the PVC up with LR rubble.......which, apparently, you cant have too much of! lol!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1407187

 

[Scuba Dan]

*Nice* looking mantis. Where did you find her? I'm having a hard time finding a Peacock Mantis. LFS tell me they can order a mantis for me, but no guarantee that I will receive a Peacock mantis. I've decided to find one myself that way I know I'm getting the Peacock.

 

[kookerson]

The First time I went to our LFS, they told me the same thing. But after searching online, and everywhere else.....I decided to physically go to the LFS and see if my luck had changed. The lady that helped me was awesome and was able to get specific species. Thanks for the comments, hope I was able to help!

 

[Wildinside]

I have a peacock and I used 2 inch pvc for his burrow. I went with the U shape although it is more of a lazy U. Perhaps 125 degrees instead of 180. What I did to make it less "pipe-like" is I super glued a bunch of small rocks all around the front of both sides to make it look like a cave and put a couple of more rocks around the outside. then use some glue on the length of pipe and roll it in sand. I also put a couple of small rocks on the inside where you can see in to avoid the pipe look. Hope that helps.

 

[Scuba Dan]

Thanks for the reply guys. EVERY bit counts.

 

[psychodave]

Personally I wouldnt use a PVC burrow. Theres no guarantee that the mantis will even use it. My old peacock never used his...

 

[kdblove_99]

I used a 3' T. guy seemed to really like it