Small tanks?

[MDeth]

I've been lurking on these boards for quite awhile now and can't wait to get a mantis when I move out.

My question is why I see so many small nano and pico sized tanks for mantids. I understand that people want to see their 'baby' but won't the mantis be happier with more privacy? IMO you might even see a certain individual more often out of the burrow if it has a tank that feels roomier.

How many tanks do you guys have that you have no more room for something like a 55g ?

 

[medellia]

How many tanks do you guys have that you have no more room for something like a 55g ?

ummm, let's not get into that

seriously though...i know it sounds logical that they would be more active in a large tank, but in my experience it is the opposite. my mantids seem to be more comfortable and active in a tank that fits their size rather than a disproportionally large tank. most of them rarely travel more than a few inches from their burrows, and for some reason a huge tank seems to intimidate them more.
of course, some larger species need large tanks, but nano tanks make more sense for a lot of mantids which top out at around 4" or less. (and add to that the fact that they have to be housed individually and are also super-addicting...can't just have one )

 

[Thurge]

FOr me it's not the number of tanks it's having room for a big tank. Thats why my predatory 135 is still sitting in the garage.
IMHO there is no reason to try and keep a mantis in something smaller than 10 gallons. The parameter swings that the smaller tanks can make quickly, like salinity from evaporation, and nitrate buildup (remember you can't keep a cleanup crew, they just become lunch) can be very stressful to the point of death, for a mantis. The other side of the coin is that a 3.5" mantis in a 55 would be a pretty boring tank. You can't keep any snails, crabs, hermits, or any other inverts save corals (and some species naturally live in corals, bashing out a home in amongst the branches). Most fish would also be a No No as they too will be invited to dinner, not knowing they are dinner. There are probably more than just damsels (i would be hard pressed to remember one I have lost to a Mantis), I just don't think many would be willing to risk more than $10 on a potential meal. So you have a 55 with some Liverock, and a 4" mantis that won't leave the rocks.

 

[ksrinlv]

I have a mantis in a 50 gallon tank (has some baffles, so around 35 gallon space for him?). The tank has one n.wennerae, one damsel, lots of corals, a couple hermits large/smart enough to have evaded the mantis, and whatever snails the mantis hasn't invited to dinner yet. I love watching him cruise around the larger tank! The biggest down side of having a mantis in that large of a tank is the limited suitable tankmates and the constant replenishing of cleaning crew needed.

 

[Conductive]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9983535#post9983535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thurge

IMHO there is no reason to try and keep a mantis in something smaller than 10 gallons. The parameter swings that the smaller tanks can make quickly, like salinity from evaporation, and nitrate buildup (remember you can't keep a cleanup crew, they just become lunch) can be very stressful to the point of death, for a mantis.

I may be new, but I'm going to have to disagree. My sub adult (Probably 2-2.5 inch) P. ciliata seems to be doing fine in my 6 gallon retrofitted eclipse. He's constantly moving sand around and prowling through the rocks and has molted twice so far. It's too bad I'll have to get rid of him once he outgrows the tank. This is my first sw tank, which i'm still perfecting I've found that it's not impossible to keep the water conditions pretty pretty stable and clean with the right products and maintenance. Im starting to get pretty good coraline growth and hope to get some beginner corals growing in there pretty soon. For clean up I have two turbo snails and three larger hermits (which are ignored since they can'y be eaten since they have thick shells). Fish are a different matter. Small fish get eaten 2 at a time but larger fish that would put up a fight, like the yellow tail i have now, are relativley safe if i keep the the beast well fed.



my tank right now (not the cleanest it's ever been)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x153/Conductive_photos/tank6.jpg

picture of mantis when i first bought him and he was first exploring
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x153/Conductive_photos/ciliata.jpg

 

[Conductive]

living in harmony?

is this normal, or do i have a wimpy mantis?

it was pretty amusing when is saw the big hermit stumble onto the the lair, then get traped there. Whenever the hermit came out, the mantis would take a crack and send him back into his shell.

i have the feeling i would have a better anecdote if i had seen him eat the sgt. majors...

 

[MDeth]

Thanks for the responses

Not having kept a mantis (yet...) it's humorous to hear such extreme opposites.

 

[TMPoften]

eh the P. Cilitia are suppose to have a 20gallon min tank size if I recall, when they are full grown(around 4 inches). Mine does not mess with crabs either, but he will kill any fish I put in the tank.