Safe to keep a peacock mantis in a glass tank? (24x12x12, 15g)
- Thread starter Psyire
- Start date
ReefGeekster
Premium Member
I have mine in a glass 7g bow, http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=129811&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
which is pretty cramped. I have on order a 20L acrylic which will be here in approx. 10-14 days and will set that up with #5-#10 crushed coral and some live sand and live rocks. While he was shuffling the rubble rocks around I heard him clicking on the glass though not with force, like he was testing his boundaries.
Most glass breakage is due to a mantis trying to catch a prey and miss and hits the glass or sees something outside of the tank it wants to get too or just spooked. Bottom line is better be safe than sorry. A acrylic tank will be less expensive than a tank break clean up in most cases. I choose a 20L cause it has more floor space for the mantis vs. height space which the mantis won't use.
which is pretty cramped. I have on order a 20L acrylic which will be here in approx. 10-14 days and will set that up with #5-#10 crushed coral and some live sand and live rocks. While he was shuffling the rubble rocks around I heard him clicking on the glass though not with force, like he was testing his boundaries.
Most glass breakage is due to a mantis trying to catch a prey and miss and hits the glass or sees something outside of the tank it wants to get too or just spooked. Bottom line is better be safe than sorry. A acrylic tank will be less expensive than a tank break clean up in most cases. I choose a 20L cause it has more floor space for the mantis vs. height space which the mantis won't use.
ReefGeekster
Premium Member
Re: Safe to keep a peacock mantis in a glass tank? (24x12x12, 15g)
If it's a spearer glass is fine though if it's a smasher then acrylic is better, here's a link that may have some info for you.
http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/care.htm
Psyire said:
If it's a spearer glass is fine though if it's a smasher then acrylic is better, here's a link that may have some info for you.
http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/care.htm
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
It depends on the size of the O. scyllarus. if it is larger than 13 cm, I would not keep it in this size glass tank unless it has unusually thick glass. The standard tank this size could be broken. While rare, an animal this size can break glass. This usually happens when the animal tries to dig and hits the bottom or corner. It's normal response in the field is to try to break the obsruction. It will strike repeatedly at the glass and may chip it. O. scyllarus usually do not have protracted fights, so a break due to striking a reflection is rare. I have seen a couple of cases where an animals was being teased by a finger moving on the glass and the animals struck and cracked the glass. However, this is controlable - don't tease the mantis.
Roy
Roy
rwhhunt
New member
I have mine is a 26 BF tank that is taller than wide, while I agree that more ground space is definately better, my mantis has a little perch near the top of the tank that she likes to sit on and scope things out! Of course, there is a quick escape route to the rear tunnel entrance!
Psyire
Premium Member
Very cool info, thanks!
rwhhunt, do you like the bowfront? does it distort your view much?
I think I'll be safe and go with acrylic, and maybe alittle bigger than 15g. I want to start with a small peacock, like 2" and I'm sure he'll grow and I don't need a spill.
The tank will sit on my computer desk and be plumbed into my 180g setup so I won't have to worry about heaters or powerheads adding clutter to the tank. The hardest part about the whole thing will probably be finding the mantis.
rwhhunt, do you like the bowfront? does it distort your view much?
I think I'll be safe and go with acrylic, and maybe alittle bigger than 15g. I want to start with a small peacock, like 2" and I'm sure he'll grow and I don't need a spill.
The tank will sit on my computer desk and be plumbed into my 180g setup so I won't have to worry about heaters or powerheads adding clutter to the tank. The hardest part about the whole thing will probably be finding the mantis.
Herbert T. Kornfeld
In Memoriam
Is that a urchin I see? Wont a mantis eat that?
Psyire
Premium Member
After trying to find an Acrylic tank with minimal success, I think I may have a custom starphire aquarium built for him. 24x15x12. 19g Approx. 3/8" glass should be plenty thick to hold him right? He arrives tomorrow! My 'fuge will be his home until I have a suitable tank for him.
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
1/4" is more than enough.
Roy
Roy
Psyire
Premium Member
So I got my mantis today!
He survived a very long bus ride, something I'd even have trouble doing.
Few questions...
After acclimating him and releasing him into the 'fuge, he swam straight for a rock and curled up into a ball face down and hasn't really moved much. Is this normal?? It's alittle unnerving...
I hope to get some pictures tomorrow but we'll see...
It was suppose to be a peacock but I'm not so sure that it is. He is mainly Army green with white edging along his sides. His antennules are green and I thought I could see some blue/red on his underside. His legs however looked to be striped black & white. I'll have to see him in better light... Does this sound like any kind of mantis you've seen? He looks very similar to a peacock, but the red is black... I think.
Thanks!!
He survived a very long bus ride, something I'd even have trouble doing.
Few questions...
After acclimating him and releasing him into the 'fuge, he swam straight for a rock and curled up into a ball face down and hasn't really moved much. Is this normal?? It's alittle unnerving...
I hope to get some pictures tomorrow but we'll see...
It was suppose to be a peacock but I'm not so sure that it is. He is mainly Army green with white edging along his sides. His antennules are green and I thought I could see some blue/red on his underside. His legs however looked to be striped black & white. I'll have to see him in better light... Does this sound like any kind of mantis you've seen? He looks very similar to a peacock, but the red is black... I think.
Thanks!!
Herbert T. Kornfeld
In Memoriam
They can change color a bit depending on mood... Wait a few days and see if his colors change.
ReefGeekster
Premium Member
Like most wild animals when introduced to a new environment they will seek refuge until they feel safe. He/she should start peeking out in due time, if you have a light over your 'fuge you might turn it off for awhile too.
Also sloshing around during the trip might get he/she disoriented enough that it will hide for awhile too.
Also sloshing around during the trip might get he/she disoriented enough that it will hide for awhile too.
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Some stomatpods have the ability to lighten and darken with the daily photoperiod and perhaps slowly change color within a molt in response to background color, but those that dramatically change color do so when they molt. I have never heard of a stomatopod changing color in response to "mood" or "emotion".
Roy
Roy
