Mantis Diary

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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2581026
Aww, I love Gingi! She's a cutie.
How long do they live?
Thanks! She is a cutie...most of the time
From what I have read, the way you figure is about 1" of growth per year for the first 2-3 inches, and then about a 1/2 inch per year after that, so I would say going to by that, a Peacock growing to a full 7" could live for about 5-6 years in the home aquarium if you got one at 3-4".
Originally Posted by renogaw
http:///forum/post/2581076
how do you keep your tank clear of algae etc? doesn't the mantis eat all the snails/hermits?
It's not an easy job, as I am sure you can see in the pics
The algae grows extremely fast in a tank that has no CUC. We use a magnet cleaner and a scraper for the stuck on stuff the magnet cleaner can't get. Surprisingly, we haven't had an algae problem on the rocks that make up her homes (had a cyano outbreak on the live rock rubble that we had to scrub down). The glass on the other hand gets out of control, so we need to keep it in check and clean it every few days. We don't bother with the back of the tank, but need to tackle the sides a little more.
We tried using large Margarita snails, but she eventually tried plucking them off one by one, and did have a couple for meals, but I saved the rest and put them another tank. We also tried getting a ton of Astreas figuring she wouldn't get to all of them for a while and they could do the job for at least a little bit, but the next day, she had 90% of them buried in her den
So needless to say, it's all manual labor when it comes to keeping her tank clean
 
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kikithemermaid

Guest
I wish I had a mantis tank, but our apartment is tiny and I have insomnia as it is...unless the mantis tried to sleep when I did it wouldn't work haha.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
My mantis tank is on the kitchen counter takes up almost no room at all . Just like fish you can control the light cycle and they will adjust to it .
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Originally Posted by FLBOYINOHIO
http:///forum/post/2576515
can someone please explain to me whats the deal with mantis tanks? I fail to see the awesomeness of a small lobster in my tank haha. I dont mean to hate on anyone that likes them, but I was just wondering why they are cool as pets? seems to me they spend a great deal of time just hiding.
IMO Mantis is far more interesting to watch than a pair of clowns hovering in the corner of the tank. I wish I could talk my hubby into converting our 44g FW tank into a Mantis tank. So far it's been big fat NO on that.
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2581995
I wish I had a mantis tank, but our apartment is tiny and I have insomnia as it is...unless the mantis tried to sleep when I did it wouldn't work haha.
We live in an apartment/townhouse, and it's not that big. It feels like we have tanks everywhere we look
I agree with Crash, they do "sleep" when you sleep since you have the light schedule adjusted to when you want it. I know Monty closes up shop sometimes even before I turn the lights off.
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2582096
I wish I could talk my hubby into converting our 44g FW tank into a Mantis tank. So far it's been big fat NO on that.
Keep trying!!! JK
He would definitely not regret it though. I have my mom's FW Cichlid tank, and the fish are beautiful and all, but there is no interaction.
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Depends on the species. Gingi (O. Scyllarus or Peacock) needs a 30 gal. or bigger, or you could do a 20 long which has the footprint of a 30 gal. since they need the space to "run" around. You can get a smaller species in much smaller tanks (Monty my N. Wennerae, is in a 12 gal.), but in my experience, it is very hit or miss with how much activity you will get out of a lot of the smaller species.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
I am starting with a 14 gallon bio cube and then this fall when we move I will be doing the tank shuffle and the Reef/mantis tank will be going into the 75 . The Triggers and damsel will be going into a 125 and the 14 gallon will be empty until I can get a wernnera
 
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kikithemermaid

Guest
I asked my boyfriend is we could get a peacock mantis today and he just looked at me.

I guess I will just have to settle with looking at Gingi on here!
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest

Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2586943
I asked my boyfriend is we could get a peacock mantis today and he just looked at me.


I guess I will just have to settle with looking at Gingi on here!
Usually it's the guys that want it and have to convince their better half to get one.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2586943
I asked my boyfriend is we could get a peacock mantis today and he just looked at me.

I guess I will just have to settle with looking at Gingi on here!

Wow
A woman that doesn't know how to get her way
? How odd .
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Originally Posted by Crashbandicoot
http:///forum/post/2587323
Wow
A woman that doesn't know how to get her way
? How odd .


That is an art all women must, and eventually do, master. I know I have
 
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kikithemermaid

Guest
Originally Posted by sexyshrimp101
http:///forum/post/2587133
Usually it's the guys that want it and have to convince their better half to get one.
I know!

How's Gingi? What would happen if Gingi and Monty were together? Would they fight? What about two peacocks?
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2588357
I know!

How's Gingi? What would happen if Gingi and Monty were together? Would they fight? What about two peacocks?
Gingi and Monty are staggeringly different in size (saw them almost side by side when I had the tank switching incident
). Gingi would most definitely kill Monty. You aren't supposed to have more than one Mantis in a tank unless they are a mated pair (which is near impossible to do). They are very territorial.
Originally Posted by renogaw
http:///forum/post/2588604
i thought peacocks aren't good for a nano/small tank due to how big they get?
Peacocks need a minimum of a 30 gal. for the leg room. Gingi is in a 20 long which has the footprint of a 30 gal. (height isn't an issue with them). Monty is in the 12 gal. nano.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
http:///forum/post/2588604
i thought peacocks aren't good for a nano/small tank due to how big they get?

I am already planning an up grade with in the year so thats the only reason I am starting with a nano . The peacock will go in the 75 when we move in nov.
 
phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member

Originally Posted by sexyshrimp101
http:///forum/post/2588636
Gingi and Monty are staggeringly different in size (saw them almost side by side when I had the tank switching incident
). Gingi would most definitely kill Monty. You aren't supposed to have more than one Mantis in a tank unless they are a mated pair (which is near impossible to do). They are very territorial.
Peacocks need a minimum of a 30 gal. for the leg room. Gingi is in a 20 long which has the footprint of a 30 gal. (height isn't an issue with them). Monty is in the 12 gal. nano.
There are only a few types of mantis that do pair up for life. Peacocks are not one of them. They are they burrowing species Lysiosquilla and kinds like them that mate for life. But yes It is very hard to do and you'd need a large tank with a very deep sandbed fot this animal anyhows.
 
nina&noah

nina&noah

Member
I have a mantis in my tank that I am trying to catch. I have yet another trap that I am going to try tonight. If anyone wants it, you can have it. That is if I ever catch it!!!!
It is fun to read this thread. My tank maintance guy said that no one would want a mantis. He told me to throw it in the back yard! The LFS told me to bring it in to feed to the triggers. He is kind of cute, so I feel bad. It's not his fault he is in my tank. However, until I get him out he is still going by the name "stupid mantis shrimp."
 
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