Quick Question

[Cybrex]

Hello one and all,

I am new to these forums, and new to salt water tanks, but one who has loved salt water tanks for a long time. I recently discovered the wonderful Peacock Mantis Shrimp and have decided that this will be the first of soon to be new hobby of Salt Water Tanks. My first question really is about the tank itself, I have read from different sites about the Mantis Shrimp that its suggested that it should be in an acrylic though have only heard once or twice that one has cracked/shattered a glass aquarium. What are the chances of one shatting a tank, how many of you actually have acrylic tanks and how many have glass tanks.

I am able to get hold of multiple 25 gallon glass tanks so if an acrylic tank isnt actually needed then I will use them instead.

Anyways, if you have an suggestions, comments or tips for me about getting a Mantis Shrimp feel free to say so.

Look forward to being a proud owner of a Mantis Shrimp.

Cybrex

 

[Crawling68]

Well if your new to salt water period, just one word, cycle.

 

[Cybrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8091741#post8091741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crawling68
Well if your new to salt water period, just one word, cycle.

Yup already looking into this, naturally going to go with the LR Cycle.

But what I really need to know before anything can be started is, should I go glass or acrylic? I have a LFS checking prices for me for a 20g acrylic tank, but if glass will be fine I will go with one of the 25g I can get my hands on.

 

[lemures-ex]

It seems to me that mantis crack tanks so rarely that it's not worth worrying about.

That said, I'm a bit paranoid and would go with acryllic for any larger species just to be on the safe side.

Either way you should be fine and even if the mantis does crack the tank it will likely only be because you are provoking it and at least you woud be there to duct tape the hell out of the tank and start moving the contents

Jared

 

[Frostyeel]

I would look in with your LFS about getting a 29 or 30 gallon tank because a peacock would be better fit for a tank that size, other wise I would go for the 25 gallon because a tank that size probably has glass thick enough that a peacock won't be able to break it. A 25 glass is certianly better than a 20 acryllic.

 

[Cybrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8092932#post8092932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lemures-ex
It seems to me that mantis crack tanks so rarely that it's not worth worrying about.

That said, I'm a bit paranoid and would go with acryllic for any larger species just to be on the safe side.

Either way you should be fine and even if the mantis does crack the tank it will likely only be because you are provoking it and at least you woud be there to duct tape the hell out of the tank and start moving the contents

Jared

Ya, I was pretty paranoid about the whole thing about the mantis shrimp shattering glass, then I started looking into it and realized that its not something that happens frequently, if at all.
Only time I plan on provoking my Mantis is when its his weekly live food feeding time And Im sure to have a few rolls of duct tape around just incase

 

[Cybrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8093226#post8093226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Frostyeel
I would look in with your LFS about getting a 29 or 30 gallon tank because a peacock would be better fit for a tank that size, other wise I would go for the 25 gallon because a tank that size probably has glass thick enough that a peacock won't be able to break it. A 25 glass is certianly better than a 20 acryllic.

I was thinking that too, but then I thought well if the mantis ends up being a fairly small shrimp when I purchase it, then I can hold him off in the 25g till I get a larger tank to put him in, something that I can do more with.

 

[Uriel]

Dr. Roy has stated (on several occassions) that breakage is usually on the bottom, as the peacock tries to dig deeper, to expand his burrow. He suggests putting in an acrylic pane, a thick one (Just in case).
You should be good with that.

-Uriel

 

[Cruella]

good luck finding a true peacock. I have tried and failed. I have everything but apeacock mantis shrimp. I only wanted one mantis now I am down 6

 

[Cybrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8095064#post8095064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cruella
good luck finding a true peacock. I have tried and failed. I have everything but apeacock mantis shrimp. I only wanted one mantis now I am down 6

lol, nice. I love a challenge