Should I give up my angler for a peacock mantis?

[State_of_Mind]

Didn't realize there was a whole section just for mantis shrimp! Cool stuff

Anyway, I'm thinking of selling my angler and buying a peacock mantis shrimp. Still deciding on if a mantis shrimp is giving up my angler for.

The tank it would be going into would be a 30 gallon rimless cube (attached to larger system). It's currently bare bottom with a few rocks and macroalgae in it so I'd have to add sand and rubble.

Would the price of food go up compared to an angler? Not sure how often a mantis shrimp would have to eat. Also, they don't jump or escape I suppose?

So it comes to angler vs. mantis? What do you think? :frog:

 

[Calappidae]

30 cube is too small for an O. scyllarus.

I don't have much experience with anglers so I can't give comparisons, but mantis shrimp are, IMO, more interesting and interactive.

 

[cft916]

Ive had both and prefer mantis. Less maintenance and more interactive. You can feed a mantis prepared food

 

[State_of_Mind]

30 cube is too small for an O. scyllarus.

I don't have much experience with anglers so I can't give comparisons, but mantis shrimp are, IMO, more interesting and interactive.

What would be an appropriate sized tank then? :sad2:

Ive had both and prefer mantis. Less maintenance and more interactive. You can feed a mantis prepared food

Thanks, I would definitely enjoy feeding prepared food in addition to live foods.

 

[Fartin'Gary]

That size tank is ok for a smaller peacock but a full grown one will need at least a 40. You can keep them in smaller tanks but you don't get the full experience and water is harder to maintain.
You said it's hooked into a larger system so water quality should be great.
They come out more and explore in a lager tank though in my experience.
So yes, you can put it in the 30 since it's hooked to a big system. Just be extra sure there is no copper in your water.

You need a lid. They are curious and will jump out.

 

[peasofme]

make sure it's a real peacock or it will be very shy. mantis don't live long and often die suddenly in molts. like all inverts, they are sensetive to water parameters. i don't know anything about anglers but they look cool.

 

[State_of_Mind]

That size tank is ok for a smaller peacock but a full grown one will need at least a 40. You can keep them in smaller tanks but you don't get the full experience and water is harder to maintain.
You said it's hooked into a larger system so water quality should be great.
They come out more and explore in a lager tank though in my experience.
So yes, you can put it in the 30 since it's hooked to a big system. Just be extra sure there is no copper in your water.

You need a lid. They are curious and will jump out.

That makes more sense for why having a larger tank is better. If probably doesn't make a huge difference, but I meant to say square instead of cube so the dimensions are 2'x2'x1'. Good to know that it will need a lid. There is definitely not any copper in the water, all my corals would be dead :uhoh3:

make sure it's a real peacock or it will be very shy. mantis don't live long and often die suddenly in molts. like all inverts, they are sensetive to water parameters. i don't know anything about anglers but they look cool.

Thank you for the information It helps!

 

[DukeLawn]

Hope you choose peacock mantis, they seem like a great fit for what you are describing.

 

[State_of_Mind]

Thank you Still on the fence though.

 

[rishu_pepper]

Our O. Scyllarus has provided us many hours of entertainment. She's a beaut! Yes, 30g is on a bit of a small size (as we have now) but it's manageable. A longer tank would be preferred for sure.