Thinking about getting a G Smithii or N Wennerae

[Lil B-rent]

Hi, i was thinking about getting one of the two mantis shrimp and i need to know some stuff. First of all is will they jump if i get an open top aquarium? Secondly is if a 5 gallon is large enough to house one. Also, do they rip out coral and bring it in their burrows? Finally is how i tell the difference between a N Wennerae and a N Bredini?

Thanks. :rollface:

 

[Guygettnby]

i recomend starting with an N.wennerea as your first mantis. they are very easy to keep, do not require much space and are very active. they will not jump as far as i know....none of mine have. they may moce corals if they are not glued down or stuck on something big enough for them not to move. they like to decerate there apartments like us all...lol.. also the easiest way to know what kind it is would be to know were it hitch hiked from. the next way would be to have some pictures and have us id it for you.

 

[Lil B-rent]

oh ok. thanks but, is there any difference between the N wennerae and N bredini besides genetic differences?

 

[Lil B-rent]

oh and i might get a 5.5g with a fuge in the back for the mantis. Do you know what kind of lights i should get with the tank? i was thinking about t-5 lights but somone said that they prefer lower wat lights.

Here's the t-5 i wanted.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+16770&pcatid=16770

 

[Guygettnby]

i currently have a 65w current sattelite on my mantis tank and they do fint with it. if you plan on keeping corals or anything in the same tank then get the light for it. N.Wenerrea are verry easy to keep and light usualy doesnt affect them.

 

[Lil B-rent]

well, i was thinking about a light that i can at least have shrooms or zoas in. also, i guess ill get a N wennerae.

thanks

 

[Guygettnby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12559259#post12559259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lil B-rent
well, i was thinking about a light that i can at least have shrooms or zoas in. also, i guess ill get a N wennerae.

thanks

mushroom and zoas need almost no light to keep. so almost any light you buy would be enough. i would go with T5 lighting over PC though. every PC light i have ever had has promoted unwanted algea growth. 65 watts on a tank like say a 29g is a perfect amount of light for any zoa,mushroom or polyp. what size tank are you plaining on housing the mantis in?

 

[Lil B-rent]

Well i was thinking to get a 5.5 gallon with a fuge for my mantis. whats the minimum wpg for shrooms and zoas?

 

[Lil B-rent]

i guess my tank can stand the algea with the chiato in my fuge that sucks up the nutrients in the water.

 

[Guygettnby]

coralife makes a small lite that will suite your needs. only thing you need to do is fab something to hold the lite up. or get a glass top to put on the tank then you can set it on that.

or they make a nice T5 fixture that is alittle more expensive and will hang off the edges abit but it is an al around better lite with more power. they dont make a light that i know about that fits a 5.5g tank perfectly. the t5 lite is 18in and around $60-70 and has about 45w....the coral life is about 12in and sells for about $35-40 with 18W's.

good luck with everything

 

[Lil B-rent]

Thanks