Woohoo...Peacock mantis Tank :)

[jrockssvt]

I still do not understand why a full grown peacock mantis can not be housed in a smaller aquarium (considering that the water is perfect) It does not travel around the tank much it makes a burrow and lives there. And it will be fed often so its not like it is searching for food. Could someone please explain this to me? My current 7" mantis that I purchased today is living in a 6 gallon with a lot of live rock and 4" DSB and is so far so good. I do plan on building him a new bigger tank very soon but I am a little confused on why I should??

What should I feed the mantis for it to thrive?

I do not want to feed it live food everyday just occasionally....

Frozen Silversides, scallops, shrimp????

Thanks for the help, I am in it for the best interest for the mantis.

 

[dismalorb]

Would you like to be crammed into a tiny box for the rest of your life? Just curious...

Perhaps you should be more concerned with the size of the tank for your mantis to thrive, as opposed to being concerned with its food to thrive. 6 gallons is barely enough for an O. havenensis or N. wennerae (which stay smaller), LET ALONE a 7" O. scyllarus.

Dr. Roy keeps his Stomatopods in smaller quarters because he's been doing this for over a quarter century; he knows what he's doing and how to do it right.

When you read through all the prior posts on here (have you?), or even watch the videos on YouTube, you see most Peacocks are kept in (rarely) anything smaller than a 20-29 gallon tank. It's cruel to keep them in anything less, honestly.

Don't believe me? Live in your closet for a few months and only open the door once or twice a month and see how it makes you feel.

 

[Pea-brain]

They do go outside their burrow. They need a burrow twice their size to molt properly. Even Dr. Roy, who keeps most mantises in small cups and such, keeps his O. scyllarus in 25 gallon tanks. (If I recall correctly). You want a pet that will be interactive and healthy? get a bigger tank. You want an animal with frequent molting problems that try to break the tank, may jump and certainly isn't happy? Keep it in there.

Dan

 

[jrockssvt]

Well I building him a bigger tank I did just didnt no how big I am thinking 24l x 20w x 12H.

 

[Thurge]

I personally don't keep any full grown mantis in anything smaller than a 15 (24X12). I feel they are much more interactive when they have more room to move. I would say that is why you don't see your peacock out much. The only Smasher species I know of that is OK in smaller tanks is G. chiagra because they really do just hang out in their burrow, but most people that keep Peacock's report that they are quite interactive and are usually out wandering aobut. Plus the glass on a 6 isn't very thick and a 7" mantis is fully capible of making a jail break from that tank.

Foods:
Krill
Silversides
scallops
clams
squid
crab
conch
fish

 

[jrockssvt]

He is in a plastic 6g and I have had him only for 2 days and now I have moved him over to my sump 20g for my display for now his new tank will be done in a week.

 

[dismalorb]

Good to hear!

I have an almost 3" one in a 29g acrylic, and she'll probably move into my 55 when I'm done with it.

I think it's good to give 'em as much space as you can.

 

[MAGDRL Mom]

My 4" Peacock is very active in my 55. Lots more than when he was in the 20L fuge

 

[hoosierpat]

I would imagine that in the wild a mantis would seldomly leave its burrow by more that a few inches. There are too many wrasses, triggers, and puffers looming around for it to be safe. Therefore, I don't think that its necessary for much more than enough room for a burrow and a few inches around it for hunting prey so long as the water quality is acceptable.

It is not surprising that mantises that are presented with more than enough space to hunt in and with a lack of predators will roam more. Any animal that does not feel fear of its surroundings will move throughout them quite a bit but that doesn't mean that it is natural.

 

[ck1]

hoosierpat-
where are you referencing your info from?

To me it just does not add up- that a few inches is sufficient and to have anything more outside their burrow would be more un-natural than the proposed crowding.

In the wild- mantis shrimp must leave their burrow to mate, I am sure they leave to hunt when needed- and don't they sometimes switch burrows for various reasons?

It seems as though you are implying that in the ocean- they are so terrified of the natural ocean life that they never leave their burrows other that to grab a quick snack- while never fully exiting burrow. Where have you seen this documented???