coral_reefer_25
New member
Will a mantis eat a fish or do they just go after snails, crabs and other shrimp?
Will a mantis eat a fish?
- Thread starter coral_reefer_25
- Start date
TitansFan
Active member
I did quite abit of reading before getting my mantis. I picked him up from the Critter yesterday after the swap. I believe I have identified theirs as Neogonodactylus wennerae.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...costraca/royslist/species.php?name=n_wennerae
From what I have read this guy does not usually get over 4 inches. Depending on the size of the tank I would think a damsel (fast swimming fish to be ok). I wouldn't put a clown with him though for that matter I really wouldn't put a fish with him that I would be upset about losing. My little guy has been busy building a burrow. I have only seen him a few times since I put him in. Being my tank for him is only 12 gallons I doubt I will put a fish in with him. Also he is a smasher so he is built to hunt crabs and snails. The spearers usually hunt fish and soft fleshed prey. Sitting here typing this I can hear him hammering away at the rock trying to finish up his redecorating work on his new home.
Dr. Roy in the mantis forums on here knows quite abit about these little guys if you need more info.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...costraca/royslist/species.php?name=n_wennerae
From what I have read this guy does not usually get over 4 inches. Depending on the size of the tank I would think a damsel (fast swimming fish to be ok). I wouldn't put a clown with him though for that matter I really wouldn't put a fish with him that I would be upset about losing. My little guy has been busy building a burrow. I have only seen him a few times since I put him in. Being my tank for him is only 12 gallons I doubt I will put a fish in with him. Also he is a smasher so he is built to hunt crabs and snails. The spearers usually hunt fish and soft fleshed prey. Sitting here typing this I can hear him hammering away at the rock trying to finish up his redecorating work on his new home.
Dr. Roy in the mantis forums on here knows quite abit about these little guys if you need more info.
coral_reefer_25
New member
Here's the deal....Last Thursday I got home to find one of my clownfish missing. The one that was missing is a little guy...like, 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch at most. I didn't see him at all on Thursday evening, nor Friday...nor Saturday morning before the swap.
Thus, I bought another clown from Fishboy.
Ginnie gets it home yesterday, acclimates it, and releases it into the tank. Shortly after that, she sees the little guy magically reappear from being MIA for 36 hours or so.
Now I have three clownfish in a 29 gallon tank, and the only other tank I have is a 5.5, and it wasn't intended to be a mantis tank. The mantis was a stow-away on some of the LR that I got from the Critter.
Here is my mantis.
My (possibly bad) idea is to capture the smallest clown and put him into the 5.5 upstairs, because I REALLY like the new clown, although the larger of the two original clowns is chasing the new guy all over the tank.
Of course, the other option is to try to catch the mantis and get rid of it, THEN try to catch the clown.
No matter which option is best, I'm sure none of them will be easily done.
Thus, I bought another clown from Fishboy.
Ginnie gets it home yesterday, acclimates it, and releases it into the tank. Shortly after that, she sees the little guy magically reappear from being MIA for 36 hours or so.
Now I have three clownfish in a 29 gallon tank, and the only other tank I have is a 5.5, and it wasn't intended to be a mantis tank. The mantis was a stow-away on some of the LR that I got from the Critter.
Here is my mantis.
My (possibly bad) idea is to capture the smallest clown and put him into the 5.5 upstairs, because I REALLY like the new clown, although the larger of the two original clowns is chasing the new guy all over the tank.
Of course, the other option is to try to catch the mantis and get rid of it, THEN try to catch the clown.
No matter which option is best, I'm sure none of them will be easily done.
TitansFan
Active member
Looks just like my mantis I just payed $12 for. I wouldn't keep clowns in there with him. The clowns just are not good enough swimmers to stay away. Do you have any small blue legged hermits? If the mantis stays full he would probably leave the clowns alone until you figure out what you want to do.
To get the mantis out you know the easiest way will be to remove all the rock and net him. I am sure the critter will take him back.
To get the mantis out you know the easiest way will be to remove all the rock and net him. I am sure the critter will take him back.
coral_reefer_25
New member
The thing is, he hides IN a few of the rocks...taking the rocks out, wouldn't necessarily leave him in the tank.
coral_reefer_25
New member
Maybe I should try catching the clownfish first. lol
You could get one of those breeder boxes or betta tanks that hangs on the inside of tank and put the clown in there with a few pieces of rock rubble or somethin' til you get the mantis figured out. Them clowns are so small, it should be fine in there for a few days. Would be better than bein' bullied.
Steve
Steve
