Keeping a Mantis shrimp

nwdyr

nwdyr

Active Member
"big animals"...so whats big?? ...... I tell me g/f 6inch is HUGE!....but a mantis shrimp
3-4-6in I dont think that is "big". I agree they are dangerous and they "may" break glass. I am on my way to Menard's for plexi for the bottom and sides....better safe :) I was going to move to Cape Coral fl. but had to stay here , I would also have been on my way to the gulf today for sand!
lucky you!
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
I've actually heard more first hand accounts of front panels popping off tanks than I have heard mantis shrimp breaking through glass. Hence it is riskier to even own a glass tank than it is to place a mantis in a glass tank!
But I bet Caldwell glass breakers were in little thin paneled specimen holders. Most of his mantis' resided in a lab for observation. And I bet it was something big and strong like a mature chiragra. If you have a big mantis, your tank will be big (hopefully) and the glass will be thicker. Again, I have no doubt they can break glass, but I have never heard/read of it happening to a fellow hobbyist like myself.
What are the dimensions of that tank, Joe?
Are the havanensis popular in your area? I remember some years back, I believe it was Caldwell, who had put a "shout-out" for one.... in that they were hard to come by.
In that tank I would go with any of the smaller ones like O. latirostris, O. brevirostris and O. havanensis or one of the Neogonodactylus such as N. wennerae, N. bredini, or N. oerstedii, A standard 10g would probably serve you better, however. That tank has unusable vertical space verses the much needed horizontal space.
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Ok, after doing some research, I believe mine is a maroon Odontodactylus Havanensis. Pictures . . .


What do you all think?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/3223341
Ok, after doing some research, I believe mine is a maroon Odontodactylus Havanensis. Pictures . . .


What do you all think?
I am sure you know this Randy but i will post for the benefit of others
Species: Odontodactylus havanensi
Common name: None
Functional type: Smasher
Range: Caribbean, common off Florida Keys
Habitat: Rubbly sand
Depth: 15–50 m; common from 20–40 m
Home: Simple u-shaped burrow constructed of rubble and gravel
Diet: Generalist; small crustaceans, especially crabs and hermits, small gastropods
Size: 20–70 mm
Color: Mottled brown with white and red raptorial appendages, pink uropods
Distinguishing Characters: A red spot on the medial edge of the antennal scale
Activity: Diurnal, closes at night
Aquarium Requirements:
Temperature: 23–28° C
Salinity: 34–35 PSU
Cohabitants: Large gastropods, echinoderms
Aquarium size (adult): 80 l
Aquarium substrate: Sand and gravel with pieces of LR
Suitability for Aquarium: Fair; can’t tolerate changing parameters or low oxygen; active and interactive
Availability: Occasionally from Florida suppliers
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Well I have deiced to go with a 25 gallon acrylic tank that I have in storage. I have about a 5 gallon bucket full of sand from the gulf and a bag of crushed coral. I am going to go with a deep sand bed 4 plus inches. That will give the mantis room to dig.
My find of the year so far has to be this rock I found. Seems to have been out of the water for a while. It is just what I was looking for lots of holes now I will agonize over the orientation of the rock in the tank.



Just go an e-Mail from Dr Caldwell
It depends on the size of the O. scyllarus. A large adult (5 inches) probably needs something in the range of 35 gal. A smaller adult (3 inches) does fine in a 10-15 gal.
Roy
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Thanks for the info Joe - and yes, I had run across the same info. I actually aquired mine for free :) from a fellow reefer in town who ordered some LR from a site out of Florida. She ended up having three in the 65 pounds or so of rock that she got in; the one I got, a greenish one (eaten by the aggressive fish in her 210gal aquarium, and a third that she hasn't been able to find and remove yet.
I like that orientation in the middle picture myself, provided there is room to sit it that direction.
Joe, your talk of sand from the gulf reminds me that you had at one time gathered up some small clams and placed them in your fuge, how did they end up doing for you?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Randy i like that orientation as well I just don't think the mantis will i will most likely lay it flat so he can use the holes as access points when he borrows. I keep looking at the rock and my DT

The clams never did well in the refuge
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3223435
Randy i like that orientation as well I just don't think the mantis will i will most likely lay it flat so he can use the holes as access points when he borrows. I keep looking at the rock and my DT

The clams never did well in the refuge
; Oh the agony of a single rock . . .
Bummer, sorry to hear that.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3223505
Are you going to use a PVC tunnel, Joe?
first Cran thanks
for the input on the tank size I am going bigger gives me more options. yes i will post a pic tomorrow of my rock but i am going to use a 2 inch PVC with 45 degree fittings on each end so there will be two areas for entrance.
oh wait are you talking about incorporating the PVC into the rock
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3223548
please do i am sure sax-man is not camera shy
He was a full time musician for many years.... half the world has already seen his PVC.
Are we gonna get in trouble for "yapping".
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Are we gonna get in trouble for "yapping"
Cran after careful consideration. I must say that this is my thread and a mask wearing, fishnet strutting, thigh high boot walking, whip cracking Lady like yourself can yap all they want.
Now how about those pics of the PVC
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
I'll Tippee-toe around the bedroom and gather picture taking supplies. Saxman is still asleep.

or should I say
 
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