tank mates?

[scubabum1983]

Hi I have a large 5 inch O. scyllarus in a 30 gal tank and it is doing well. can I have fish in with a large O. scyllarus and not have them made into a meal?

 

[Giga]

the age old question. you can chance and it could work out or you can do it and lose the fish right away.

 

[Angel7989]

in the event of adding fish to a Mantis shrimps tank, add the fish when its pitch black dark. this helps to introduce the fish in the dark so the mantis "might" not see it as a threat.

 

[Angel7989]

try adding a Chromis or cheap Damsel first to see what happens.

 

[cateyes]

i have a 4-5" N. Wennerae in with a flame cardinal. at first the mantis. Igor, sized the fish up constantly, but i guess it turned out to be easier to wait for me to offer him something to eat as to try to catch the cardinal off guard...

the cardinal still seems to be kinda "jumpy" though....

 

[gunnwong]

Yes you can add the fish to the mantis tank. You can add dragon wrasses or some kind of hog fish. I'm sure mantis won't bother them. But your mantis might be hiding all day.

 

[WeMa]

i have had a yellow tail damsel in with mine since day one, chases him on occasion, but is always happy to ignore for a nice meal from me

 

[helipilot]

I think mantis have their own personalities, especially peacocks. My 5 inch O.S. will not tolerate any other living thing in his 30 gal. domain.

 

[Shekki]

My six line and G. Term. are best friends. The fish even swims into his cave. Crazy.

 

[Thurge]

I knew of a Peacock and PJ Cardinal combo. They shaired the burrow...

 

[richofoz]

I had my smithii kill three chromis within the first day of putting them in the tank... Didn't even eat them just smahed holes in them and left them to blow around the tank!
There are also quite a few success stories though, just comes down to the mantis' personality...
Good luck if you do try.

 

[dismalorb]

Hey there!

I have a Green Chromis and a 3-Spot Damsel in a 55 gallon with my 5" male O. scyllarus, and they're all fine. The 3-Spots are ridiculously aggressive (in my experiences) and probably form some sort of alliance with Stomatopods. So I would suggest a 3-Spot (aka Domino Damsel) or another even more aggressive Damsel. Look for the fiestiest one in the tank; that's usually a good indication it has an instinct for self-preservation.

I would assume that if you keep your O. scyllarus well-fed that it's *possible* it won't go after the fish. It really depends on the specific Mantis Shrimp though.

Good luck with your Mantis Shrimp journey!