What to do...

[Dave12678]

I have a 24 inch light, a old sump, a heater and 1 powerhead. I am thinking of getting a mantis shrimp. What would be a good tank to put one in? I could even run the tank in to my new setup with my 54 corner. What do you guys think?

 

[Pea-brain]

Depends on the type of mantis you want. For smashers it can be between 2.5 gallons to 55 gallons in the most extreme case (dont worry about a 55 unless you want a hemisquilla californiensis) Most smasher fit between 10 gallons to 25. 10 is for most Gonodactylids, whereas the larger tanks are for most Odontaactylids. Take a good look at Roys list. The most common in the hobby I've seen this far Pseudosquilla Ciliata, followed by peacocks, followed by various small smashers such as G. Ternatensis and G. Smithii

 

[Pea-brain]

Also if you want a good mantis I know where you can get a Neogonodactylus Oerstedii. Look it up on roy's kist. It would be fine in a ten gallon.

 

[Dave12678]

I am thinking http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...traca/royslist/species.php?name=g_ternatensis
or
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...acostraca/royslist/species.php?name=g_smithii
or
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...ostraca/royslist/species.php?name=o_scyllarus

What do you guys think?

 

[Pea-brain]

All good choices, but scyllarus needs at least a 25 gallon when full grown. I think a 24g light only fits a ten or 15 gallon tank. you could still use it with a glass top though it wouldnt go all the way.

 

[DanInSD]

Unless you are really patient, you may just have to settle for "what you can find". I looked for months for a G. smithii, and never found it. Consider Neogonodactylus wennerae. Much easier to find!

 

[justinl]

yes N. wennerae would be another stellar choice because it stays small and is very interactive. MUCH easier to find than any other mantids. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with putting a full grown peacock in a 25 gal glass tank. I would go with acrylic or very thick glass in that case.

 

[Dave12678]

I just found a sweet deal on a oceanic 37g cube. It has a built in overflow would that cause any problems with a peacock?

 

[Ms. K]

Make sure that if you get a peacock, you are using soft lighting. Too much light can lead to shell disease for peacocks. Very subued lighting and lots of live rock and rubble is needed, and make sure you cover that tank. My 7" peacock jumped one day. Luckily, I got her back in and she recovered nicely. I don't think a built-in overflow would be any problem with a peacock. Make sure you put that heater in the sump and not in the tank itself.

For what it's worth, G. ternatensis is an AWESOME animal, but they're a little more difficult to find sometimes.

 

[Dave12678]

thanks guys