Was given a Mantis today, need help.

[Zoalander]

Ok so about 1 year ago I set up a 10 gallon tank for all of the bad hitchhikers that I got with my LR and corals. Tank is filled with gorillas, emeralds that got too big, and other inverts that I saw picking on corals. Today I was at a local LFS and thw owner gave me a mantis, it was beautiful I think it's a peacock. Will it be ok in a 10 gallon glass tank, what else should I feed it after it's done with the bad crabs, the only filteration is a fluval 2, is that ok? Thanks in advance.

 

[Thurge]

I would say a Peacock could out grow a 10, so you might keep an eye out for a bigger tank for the future.
As for what to feed it, Krill, silversides, mysis, cocktail shrimp, fish from the market.

 

[DragonFish]

I think you need to give it to me Seriously where did you get it? I'm just over the border of WI and have been looking all over for a nice mantis. Otherwise, I have a spare 20H I can part with if you want to upgrade. Where in IL are you?

 

[Hutton]

are you sure its a peacock, tons of people say they have peacocks when they turn out to be something completely different.

 

[majestic sea life]

peacocks do not come in LR.

 

[Zoalander]

Not sure if its a peacock, looks like this.

http://yapsfamily.com.ne.kr/Shrimps/Mantis Shrimp-1.jpg

It's real small though like around 2 inches. He's already built a cave for himself. I put 10 hermits in the tank for him.

 

[dave3d]

The best way to figure out what type of tank you need is to get a good ID on what you have. A peacock is pretty easy to ID and if it doesn't look like a Peacock chances are you don't have a Peacock but have something else. Check out Roy's list (sticky thread in this forum). If you know the color of it's meral spots you can get a reasonable ID on him using that list. The meral spots are located on the inside of the bashers.
The picture you posted is most likely a G Terna judging from the red lines between the segments of his exoskeleton. It's not the only species that can have this feature though. The G Terna has orange meral spot and either yellow/tan or blue legs, swimmerettes, and antennal scales. Yellow/Tan would indicate a femal where blue would indicate a male.
If he is a G Terna a 10 gallon will make a good home for him. I kept my G Terna in a 6 gallon eclipse before moving him into a 15 gallon. I found that he was more outgoing and active in the 15 gallon compared to in the 6 gallon but I imagine a 10 gallon would do just fine. He co-existed with a Yellow Tail Damsel pretty well in both tanks. There were a couple of times where he managed hit the fish but it lived to see another day each time. Recently I lost my mantis to a shell disease . So now the fish has the tank to himself for the time being until I can find a suitable replacment mantis.
--
David

 

[majestic sea life]

looks like a G. smithi or G. ternn. Im going with tern tho.

 

[Zoalander]

Thanks for your help guys. I really love this mantis, I'm thinking of getting a 24 gallon nano cube for him and keep him with a ton of zoas.

 

[smeese]

Here is a true peacock. 8 inches plus here~
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a66/smeese/?action=view&current=Coral1296.jpg

 

[rwhhunt]

Here is my peacock Mantis
Boris:

about 5-6" depending if you measure the antennaes

 

[psychodave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7239323#post7239323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rwhhunt
Here is my peacock Mantis
Boris:

about 5-6" depending if you measure the antennaes

Thats an awesome mantis!! I love the colors!! Id get one, but apparently my 30gal is on the small side...i think id rather have a smaller mantis anyway.

Very nice pic!