Tank questions for a peacock.

[rlf_racing]

I know they need to be in a 30 gal+ tank for long term hubandry. I currently have mine in a 75gal with a divider to seperate him from most of the inhabitants. Within a couple months I would like to get him his own tank for him and maybe a couple fish.

I have been looking at two different cube tanks from glasscages and not sure which would be better (height wise). Dimensions for the 60 gal cube is 24 x 24 x 25 Tall and the 80 gal cube is 24 x 24 x 31 Tall. I was thinking 80 due to the height will keep the light intensity down. In everyones opinion which would be better for my mantis?

And my other question since these tanks are half inch glass how deep of a sand bed would be required to make the perfect burrow for him? There will also be eggcrate on the bottom for the rocks to sit on for better stability. Also considering running undergravel jets, to help eleminate dead spots around the bottom of the tank.

Sorry for such a long post but any help would be greatly appreciated. And if anyone has pictures of natural burrows in the wild that would be great too. Can't seem to find them on the net.

Again thank you in advance.
Robert

 

[rlf_racing]

Bump

 

[rlf_racing]

Did I ask something or say something wrong??? I know I asked about sand bed depth before. This is is a little different since he wont have a pvc burrow. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Shawn D]

Im also looking for more info on natural burrows, but as for tank size both would be fine, you dont even need to go that big. What else are you planning to keep in there?

 

[rlf_racing]

The only info I have is that some peacocks are reef dwellers. So I was thinking of some softies and maybe lps corals. But not sure yet. I am definitely going with a cetral lower pile of live rock and and start building up shelves from there. I am still working out details.

 

[Pea-brain]

Peacocks live in mud in the wild. They construct large burrows under it. It would a large tank-like 100 gallon-to have room to construct a natural burrow. It would also be very expensive.

Dan

 

[rlf_racing]

What does everyone think of two tank options I am thinking about? Do you think the 80 would be better to keep the light intensety downor would the 60 be fine?

Pea-brain what type of mud are you saying? Miracle mud, clay, potting soil, or something else? Also where do get your info from. I have searched the net and didn't come across anything like that.

 

[rlf_racing]

Pea-brain I forgot to also ask, what would the substrate deepth need to be if it were mud?

 

[rlf_racing]

Bump

 

[Pea-brain]

I don't recall. Dr. Roy mentioned, but I didn't save it and can't remember the exact depth off the top of my head. It was in a post quite a while ago. The guy had a 100+ gallon tank and wanted to make a natural burrow for his peacock. I think the cost stopped him and he was looking at using local mud (San Francisco mud maybe. Wherever it was the water was likely to be dirty) I advised against it and I think he gave up. Definitely would've been a very neat tank though. I can't advise you how to make the mud, but I was thinking about sectioning off some mud from a 30 gallon using a mixture of sand, soil, and clay for a P. cilita but decided against it in the end.

Dan

 

[rlf_racing]

Why is there so little of information about natural habitats on the net? Since mantis shrimp are starting to become very popular.

So which tank do think would be better for my mantis? The 60 (25" tall) or the 80 (31" tall)?

 

[Pea-brain]

Your mantis won't suffer any from some extra depth and a few gallons extra water, but they don't really use the height either. I'd say the big thing is whether the 80 is too tall to do maintenance on. If it is then go with the 60. otherwise the 80 would probably be better.

Dan

 

[rlf_racing]

Why is it easier to create a natural reef type setting than setting up a natural mantis setting? Is there a good place to get info on peacock natural habitat? I have looked at lurkers guide to stomatopods, here, stomatopod.com, the net, and still can't get any info on natural habitat.

If I try miracle mud mixed, moon sand, marine bioSediment, and maybe

 

[rlf_racing]

Oops hit the wrong key. If I try miracle mud mixed, moon sand, marine bioSediment, and maybe refugium mineral mud. or would that to many types of minerals and mud mixed together?

 

[rlf_racing]

Pea-brain do you happen to remember part of the title that spoke about peacock mud habitat? And what does everyone think of the idea in the post above for making natural mud?