PVC tunnel

[Feclar]

I like the look, it give me a way to mount my rocks on the backwall, I plan to add some shelfs to mount frags, however I am wondering if my mantis is going to like it?

Will it work out or will the mantis not like the vertical layout?

With the t layout he should have both a vertical and horizontal tunnel to go thru, but worried that he will not be able to block the top hole if he so chooses and will not like it,

Figured the mantis would not enjoy the X layout as there is no horizontal tunnel

What do you think?

 

[rlf_racing]

I like that idea. I am going to change Ting's white pvc home to black. I have never thought about more than two entrances for the home. By the way what kind of mantis do you have?

 

[Feclar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11708498#post11708498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rlf_racing
I like that idea. I am going to change Ting's white pvc home to black. I have never thought about more than two entrances for the home. By the way what kind of mantis do you have?

None yet, will be getting a juvenile peacock or a G.Smithii or a P.Ciliata

 

[Finding Emo]

Cool, gives me some ideas...

 

[justinl]

What diameter is that pvc? It looks a bit on the big side. pvc burrows should ideally only be a bit wider than the width of the mantis.

 

[Feclar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11710388#post11710388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinl
What diameter is that pvc? It looks a bit on the big side. pvc burrows should ideally only be a bit wider than the width of the mantis.

I first looked at 2" but that is def too big

It is 1.5"

1" would have probably been more appropriate for me, hard to gauge while in the store

My damsel enjoys exploring it so far, I have a feeling I will need to tear it down and rebuild it with 1"

From pictures at stomatopod.com it looks like a 4" peacock is only like 1" across, so guessing width is 1/3rd to 1/4th the length?

p.s. the 2nd time around I will start off using gel based superglue, and adding aquamend if needed, started doing that at the very end and makes it alot easier, the aquamend takes too long to harden when trying to set rocks that defy gravity.

 

[rlf_racing]

Feclar where did you get the black pvc? I only seen white at Home Depot.

 

[Feclar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11711325#post11711325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rlf_racing
Feclar where did you get the black pvc? I only seen white at Home Depot.

Home Depot and also Lowes
They had 1 isle of white and 1 isle of black
Typically they use the black for sewage and the white is potable/sewage

 

[justinl]

you want to put a 4 inch peacock in there? mmm, if I were you I would hold out until I found something more suitable like G. smithii. have you considered N. wennerae or any of the other smaller species? the O.s. wouldnt be able to stay there for very long at all... a year at the most imo before needing an upgrade.

but anyways, yes a smaller diameter would be nice... in fact 3/4" would be ideal for an adult G. smithii if you can find anything comparable imo. If not, 1 inch pvc will serve fine. Alternatively you could just leave it as is; a small mantis probably wouldnt set up shop in such wide diameter pvc, but with all the cracks and crevices in the rockwork, it would probably make a home in a tunnel you made by accident in the rock work.

 

[FinnT]

I like the look of that PVC construction! Your mantis will be the coolest kid in class =)

I always hated the ugly white pvc pipe my husband used for our G. smithii before I skrimp-napped her for my 29g reef. The black doesn't detract from the aesthetic appearance nearly as much.

I'll be curious to see whether your mantis blocks off one or more of those entrances... our O. latirostris has a tunnel system through her liverock that originally had 3 natural entrances, and she permanently blocked one, leaving only front and back doors.

 

[hotimportknight]

I like that design, let me know how it turns out when you get a mantis in there... I need to redo mine the diameter is too large and something unique like that would be nice.

 

[yankeereefer]

That'll be interesting to see if the mantis will use all 4 holes.

I put a "Y" in my tank - My peacock tends to close up the tunnel that's right in front and spends it's time running back and forth to either end.

you can kinda see it in the 10g temporary tank it was in here

It just moved into this 20H last night so redecorating hadn't started at the time this pic was taken - Side entrances are pretty well hidden

 

[Feclar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11711763#post11711763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinl
you want to put a 4 inch peacock in there? mmm, if I were you I would hold out until I found something more suitable like G. smithii. have you considered N. wennerae or any of the other smaller species? the O.s. wouldnt be able to stay there for very long at all... a year at the most imo before needing an upgrade.

Actually waiting for a 2" juvenile peacock or a G.Smithii

 

[Feclar]

Guesstimating from the pictures at stomatopod.com it looks like...

2" mantis = 0.5" girth
3" mantis = 0.75" girth
4" mantis = 1" girth
5" mantis = 1.25" girth

Not sure how tight they like their burrows.

I think atleast 0.5" bigger than there girth is good, that way they have room to grow and room for their molt process, other nice thing about pvc is they can not bury anything in their den

Would be interested to see what sizes Roy and Billy use as they have the need to house lots of mantis

 

[Pea-brain]

Dr. Roy reccomends 1.5X the width of the mantis if I remember right.

Dan

 

[helipilot]

My 4" peacock uses all of his 2" pvc tube. I thought Dr. Roy said something like the mantis should be able to turn around in the tubing.

 

[Feclar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11716747#post11716747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by helipilot
My 4" peacock uses all of his 2" pvc tube. I thought Dr. Roy said something like the mantis should be able to turn around in the tubing.

Do you think your 4" peacock would be ok with a 1.5" or that would be too small for him?

 

[helipilot]

Hard call. Mine molts every 3-4 months and really seems to grow. He can barely flip around in his two inch burrow now. I know 2" pvc looks way huge, but it's not if your mantis has lots of rubble to build around the entrances. There is a pic if you want to check it out in "My Gallery".

 

[Feclar]

PVC with rocks attached in an X layout

Tweak (the damsel) likes to use the top 2 entrances

I like the look, now I need to figure out how to add some color

Sorry did not think the camera phone would catch the dried salt or I would have wiped the tank down...

 

[helipilot]

Looks darn good to me. Can't wait to see a your mantis move in.