Ten gallon big enough?

[nanoreefs415]

Hi i have always wanted to get a mantis shrimp and i was wondering if a ten gallon with some liverock would be large enough, and i have also read on other sites that they can actually break the aquarium glass. is this true?

 

[Jonny]

Depending on the speices of the mantis you get 10 should be fine for the smaller ones

 

[Thurge]

As said, a 10 should be fine for one of the smaller species.


Only the adults of the larger species of mantis have the ability to break glass.

 

[nanoreefs415]

Thanks for the quick answers. Whats the best species to get in everyones opinon?

 

[Agu]

They're not really easy to get, unless you don't want them :lol: .

The smaller hitchhiker species are usually given away by people who caught them in their tank. The larger species like the peacock are usually special order at your LFS or mail order.

 

[nanoreefs415]

I was thinking of ordering one from live aquaria. I was thinking of getting the "clown" which is a Odontodactylus scyllarus or the other tehy have which is a Gonodactylaceus spp. The clown mantis is twice the price though. Which would you recommend getting?

 

[GruntSculpin]

When it comes to getting a smaller animal the Neogonodactylus from the Florida live rock suppliers seem like winners to me. I just picked up a Gonodactylus without checking the species first and its one of the shyer ones.

Chris

 

[Hutton]

the clown is also called a peacock, one of the kinds that would break a ten gallon. if you like color go for an N. wennerae or a g. smithii.

 

[nanoreefs415]

thanks. yeah i wouldnt want my tank to break. :rollface:

 

[Zoa]

is the Neogonodactylus prone to break glass?

 

[Hutton]

no, they reach a maximum of 2.5inches and canot break glass, the only kind i would worry about is a peacock