wennerae or oerstedii

[crazyaggie05]

Ok so compare and contrast, what are the pros and cons to each of these species? I saw Roys list and it says that both are excellent, hardy, and active aquarium inhabitants. Which one is the most entertaing and has to most personality on average?

 

[Ehudd]

hmmmm they both do.
They are really indivuals. I know people with peacocks that never see them. Dr Roy made this on the basis of the mantis he found. But there are alot of shy mantis shrimp that will tell us otherwise. But on the whole i think i N, they look better in my eyes.

 

[crazyaggie05]

What was the last thing you were trying to say lol?

 

[Ehudd]

lol sorry i ment to put a W
get the wennerae!! they are a joy.

 

[crazyaggie05]

Hey guys, my tank is up and running and I am going through the nasty brown algae stage. RIght now I've been trying to figure out if I am going to bite the bullet and get a mantis or not!

There is one thing that I am wondering about that is keeping me from definately deciding on a mantis. Are there no snails or hermits you can keep with wennerae or oerstedii? Right now I have a ew trochus, baha red leg hermits, ceriths, and nassarius. The nass. are tiny so I am sure they will go, but what about the others? IF you can't keep any what do you do for a clean up crew?

 

[Thurge]

Their toast.

Lots of water changes, brittle start, and urchins.

 

[justinl]

brittle stars are iffy and urchins have less chance. make sure the brittle is NOT green. these guys are evil.

snails that would survive include only those with shells too thick to penetrate. like large-ish turbos. others are what i collectively know as the "walking dead". don't get large hermits as a large hermit (max 1 inch) can actually pose a slight threat to a mantis.

I would start with one turbo and a brittle star.

 

[Alesia]

I've had my N. oerstedii (2") for a few weeks now, and she hasn't touched my large trochus snail (shell is about 1 1/4") and my medium sized scarlet hermit (the hermit's body is only about 1/2", but the shell is about 1"). The smaller blue legs and nassarius snails get taken out on a regular basis, as did a small hitchhiking crab of some sort. I'm thinking of adding a serpent star at some point to join the permanent crew, but keeping her well-fed with smaller prey seems to be enough to keep at least the trochus snail alive and doing his job.

So far she hasn't been interested in frozen food like silversides and shrimp, so she's getting spoiled with regular supplies of live stuff. I'm going to try to get her to eat mysis on a regular basis, which should also cut down on the cleaning crew casualties.

 

[crazyaggie05]

Haha, the walking dead, thats great. Ill have to look into a btirrle star. What about those micro stars? Has anyone tried the giant nassarius? This is great info guys, thanks!