Mantis Shrimp Questions...

[yearofthenick]

I was at my LFS tonight and I saw a bright green mantis shrimp for sale! I think he's one of the ones that stays small, but not sure. I've been thinking about getting one for a while, and have another tank I can use to seed for my mantis tank. I just have a few questions as I consider doing this...
1. What is the smallest size tank I can get but still keep him relatively comfortable? I was thinking a 15-30 gallon tank.
2. How solid does the filtration/flow need to be? I was thinking of a HOB with a separate powerhead somewhere.
3. What the heck do they eat? I don't want to be spending $7 on an emerald crab every week for this guy... what do you normally feed them without driving up the costs?

 

[yearofthenick]

P.S. I know he's a solitary animal... and I likely won't spend money on corals so I'll probably just get a PC or two. I've also been told that I should put a bunch of rubble in there and let him make his own caves and corridors, right?

 

[markeo99]

15-30 is a good home a 30 is large enough for bigger species such as the peackock. seems like the larger the tank the more active
mine eats anything table shrimp and silversides soaked in selcon or something I use like 3 products
and to exercise there appendeges I smoosh there food into old snail shells so they have to break them first

 

[markeo99]

oh and fitration should be alright just dont overfeed as they are messy and bury food thats what killed my last

 

[kingsmith]

OH yEAH GOT TO lOVE Those Mantis, to add to what was said above the rubble is a good idea I put cc in with mine and he is constanly readjusting his caves it is pretty interesting. one note of caution I have read about smashers breaking glass aquariums when they get big enough, luckily I had a acrylic tank around so I put him in there.

 

[markeo99]

only tank breakers are large adult peackock or chiragra and it is rare
they also appreciate a pvc burrow