Almon
New member
I've been thinking about getting (another) one for a while, they're very cool. I unknowingly had one in my tanks for 8 years that hitchiked in from some Caribbean maricultured rock. When I finally knew what it was, I wanted to get it out of the reef as soon as possible. I could not understand why I could not keep small fish....I would add them, see them once, maybe twice, and then never see them again. All hermits crabs eventually dissappeared as well as most of the snails. But he never went after the larger fish, only small ones.
I was at House of Tropicals two weeks ago and saw that they had two Mantis Shrimp for $9.99 each. So I thought about it for a few days and went back to look again. I decided to get the lime green stomatopod and put him in my 55g display refugium, thinking he/she would like blending in with the green macro algae.
He/she was put into a small isolation container with a piece of old red organ coral (nice contrast) and some macros for a couple of days before being moved into the refugium. The mantis shrimp immediately began making a home (Condominium) in the red coral by making tunnels and passages while in the isolation container. Lots of clicking going on. Now that he's in the refugium, he is gathering small pebbles and shoving them into the gaps of the red organ coral that is now is residence on the country estate.
I was considering putting pipefish and seahorses in this refugium as well. Does anybody have any opinions on expected longevity? There are already hermits, snails, and an Arrow crab in this tank. I already know the mantis shrimp will take out the hermits and snails sooner or later. I added some specifically for that. But what about Pipefish and Seahorses. Maybe, if they are large enough?
Here is a picture of the mantis shrimp in the holding facility in his condo after putting a mysis shrimp in with him.
This is a close up
This is the 3 month old refugium about a month ago that that the Stomatopod will be making his/her new home in, the country estate:
Click the picture below to watch a YouTube video of the Stomatopod in the new country estate with hermit crabs wandering around.
I was at House of Tropicals two weeks ago and saw that they had two Mantis Shrimp for $9.99 each. So I thought about it for a few days and went back to look again. I decided to get the lime green stomatopod and put him in my 55g display refugium, thinking he/she would like blending in with the green macro algae.
He/she was put into a small isolation container with a piece of old red organ coral (nice contrast) and some macros for a couple of days before being moved into the refugium. The mantis shrimp immediately began making a home (Condominium) in the red coral by making tunnels and passages while in the isolation container. Lots of clicking going on. Now that he's in the refugium, he is gathering small pebbles and shoving them into the gaps of the red organ coral that is now is residence on the country estate.
I was considering putting pipefish and seahorses in this refugium as well. Does anybody have any opinions on expected longevity? There are already hermits, snails, and an Arrow crab in this tank. I already know the mantis shrimp will take out the hermits and snails sooner or later. I added some specifically for that. But what about Pipefish and Seahorses. Maybe, if they are large enough?
Here is a picture of the mantis shrimp in the holding facility in his condo after putting a mysis shrimp in with him.
This is a close up
This is the 3 month old refugium about a month ago that that the Stomatopod will be making his/her new home in, the country estate:
Click the picture below to watch a YouTube video of the Stomatopod in the new country estate with hermit crabs wandering around.
