Thnikkaman
New member
I have a mantis tank set up with real good lights a filteration and I've though of keeping some soft corals but Im afraid of giving my shrimp a 50$ treat. Has anyone else kept both together?
Will coral survive?
- Thread starter Thnikkaman
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brekurboy1
New member
I've mostly only seen button polyps with mantis shrimp. I also want to say that I saw some ricordia but I'm feeling fuzzy on that. But like it's like they say, " if you put it in the tank, don;t expect it to survive". who says that?
. . . people
. . . people
Thnikkaman
New member
Yeah thats how I've been feeling. I think would only try some button polyps or maybe some mushrooms. Thanks for the input.
DensityMan
Active member
I have kept several species of coral with Tim (2" G. smithii), including sps, lps and leathers. In my experience, he has never damaged any corals; even as several have encroached over one of his urrow entrances.
The mantis is not an engine of destruction fueled by an evil, invisible malevolent force. Coral is not on the menu for them (in any referrence I have read). I suppose if starved or stressed they might lash out, but in an environment where they have ample food and places to feel secure there should not be any issues.
Tim came in on the base-rock of a large sarcophyton. The only coral I have ever seen him look at all interested in destroying are the palythoa growing ever closer to his entrance. I suspect if he does act to protect his door he will trim the closest polyp. As I understand from reading, quite a few species live in close proximity to many types of mushrooms/soft-corals and use them to camoflage their abodes.
Enjoy!
The mantis is not an engine of destruction fueled by an evil, invisible malevolent force. Coral is not on the menu for them (in any referrence I have read). I suppose if starved or stressed they might lash out, but in an environment where they have ample food and places to feel secure there should not be any issues.
Tim came in on the base-rock of a large sarcophyton. The only coral I have ever seen him look at all interested in destroying are the palythoa growing ever closer to his entrance. I suspect if he does act to protect his door he will trim the closest polyp. As I understand from reading, quite a few species live in close proximity to many types of mushrooms/soft-corals and use them to camoflage their abodes.
Enjoy!
Thnikkaman
New member
Thanks DensityMan. I have'nt read anywhere about them destroying or eating corals but when I say something to the LFS how I would like to put some corals in with it they look at me like im crazy and the first thing they say is "you know mantis shirmp will kill everything in your tank". So it discourages me to do so but also makes me wonder how much this guy actually knows about mantis shrimp.
DensityMan
Active member
he will destroy (if a smasher) snails and maybe crabs (though Tim lives with at least two who seem impervious to his attacks). Astrea snail shells are thick enough to help them survive Tim currently (at his 2" length). Nassarius snails are his favorite, followed by blue-legs and cerith snails. Though many meals he has shimp-pellets.
Piercher mantids will attack and eat fish instead of hard-shelled crustaceans.
Tim is currently shacked up with a C. rubinsomethingorother (Fairy wrasse - see sig) and lived peacefully with a red scooter and a sailfin blenny before the heater incident killed the fish (and most everything else besides Tim)...
It may vary depending on the individual creatures, but I've never seen a reliable claim that a mantis will "destroy everything." The 'destroy' what they eat - just like everything else in the tank. Algae eaters destroy algae... Coralivores eat coral (some species specific some more general)... Smashers eat snails or crustaceans and piercers eat fish...
Just do a little research before you jump in; just like for any other purchase.
Piercher mantids will attack and eat fish instead of hard-shelled crustaceans.
Tim is currently shacked up with a C. rubinsomethingorother (Fairy wrasse - see sig) and lived peacefully with a red scooter and a sailfin blenny before the heater incident killed the fish (and most everything else besides Tim)...
It may vary depending on the individual creatures, but I've never seen a reliable claim that a mantis will "destroy everything." The 'destroy' what they eat - just like everything else in the tank. Algae eaters destroy algae... Coralivores eat coral (some species specific some more general)... Smashers eat snails or crustaceans and piercers eat fish...
Just do a little research before you jump in; just like for any other purchase.
Vallyre2001
New member
So far, my M. weneriea (sp?), a smasher, has played hell on snails and mussels, but hasn't bothered palythoa, xenia, zooanthids, or (unfortunately) aptasia. I haven't tried it with fish, but since the mantis is in a 5 gal hex, there's not really any room for a fish.
Ken
Ken
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