Tank mates for a mantis?

[Jordan55]

I may be getting a mantis from a club member within the next month. Planning on putter him in a 10 gallon for now. Not sure on the ID but he isn't big right now, so a 10 gallon should do fine for the time being.

Was curious as to what type of tank mates can live with mantis shrimp. I wasn't planning on any fish. Just inverts. However, I know smashers dominate clean up crews. So I was wondering if there any shrimp or crabs of some sort that will be okay mantis shrimp.

Thanks!

 

[Jordan55]

Anyone?

 

[30mini]

If you can find large enough snails and crabs they should be okay. The mantis will only go after ones that are smaller than it... it may try at the large ones, but have no luck and learn not to go after them.

 

[cuda6872]

trial & error is the only way to find out for sure. depending on what type of mantis it will be you might get away with green brittle star or larger hermit crabs. you know like the red hermits that are larger than golf balls & are unsafe for reeftanks. Me, I bought a blue spot damsel as a feeder fish & 2 months later it has become thumpers only tankmate. Good Luck!

 

[boomsticks]

Currently I have two clownfish (Maroon Female and male Perc) an Algae blenny and a basslet. He does however have plenty of hermits and snails to munch on for the time being. He did however blow the head off of a saltwater minnow I caught at the beach. Oh yeah and a 5 inch american lobster! LOL...forgot about that...kinda illegal...oops.

 

[Minhle100]

hey what do you guys thank about adding a rock crab to the tank.

 

[Frostyeel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8084447#post8084447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cuda6872
trial & error is the only way to find out for sure. depending on what type of mantis it will be you might get away with green brittle star or larger hermit crabs. you know like the red hermits that are larger than golf balls & are unsafe for reeftanks. Me, I bought a blue spot damsel as a feeder fish & 2 months later it has become thumpers only tankmate. Good Luck!

I don't know if a hermit crab that big would be a good idea, I would think it might be a danger to the mantis when the mantis molts.

 

[mickey85]

I had a sponge crab in with Boris for a month...Boris was about 3.5" from tip to tail, the crab was about a 2" diameter sphere...one day I found the crab in the back corner with his face gone and he was COMPLETELY cleaned out... Even big stuff doesn't have much of a chance...

 

[cuda6872]

Keep a heavy supply of live food in with it so it will go after the smaller prey. The easiest to catch & eat will most of the ime be the first things to go, but not always. just my 2 cent.

 

[Jordan55]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Are hermits and snails an okay diet for a mantis or does it depend on the type of mantis? I kept a mantis last year for a couple weeks. He lived off snails and hermits and appeared to be fine.

Thanks!

 

[boomsticks]

Jordan, that is perfectly fine for a mantis. Basically anything with a shell is considered dinner.