Mantis!

cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Sorry, I don't know where to buy these guys online. I found all of mine at the LFS. Maybe you could request one from this site?
Your setup sounds awesome too. If you have a choice of tall verses long... go with longer because the vertical height will be wasted on them.
Peacocks are awesome. Of the mantis' I've kept, he was the fav.
 
markw

markw

Member
This may seem like a dumb question, but can you keep a pair? I know how agressive they are, but you never know. Always good to find out.

Mark
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
In the lots of research I have done, it keeps saying that you should not keep 2 Mantis in an aquarium unless the system is very large. And even then, they still may fight. Just my two cents.
I wanted to ask if I needed a protein skimmer though. I plan on setting up a 10g underneath the Mantis tank or somewhere in my room where I can house a large number of snails, crabs, and hermits for feeding him. Ive read that Mantis store food and keep it for later and if I feed mine silverslides sometimes, wont that really build up bad nutrients?
And is it ok if I feed mine Live FW crabs? Emerald crabs can get pricey
 
markw

markw

Member
I figured the chances were quite slim, but I do know that some species live in monogomous (sp?) pairs. With adequate water changes, you wont need a protein skimmer. At least thats what I read. You can always take a baster to the shrimps cave while hes out and get any leftovers out, then remove them.
Mark
EDIT--not sure on the FW crabs, might want to wait for cranberry to pop back in. Shes the 'local expert' per se.
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
Woot Woot

I found a LFS that can order them. Time to start looking for a tank!
I plan on getting a 40g so he can grow very big. He is going to be 6 or 7'' long so I want him to get at least a foot long.
I did have a question though. I plan to feed mine twice a week so he doesnt horde food. Will that be enough?
Thanks.
 
markw

markw

Member
Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3127590
Woot Woot

I found a LFS that can order them. Time to start looking for a tank!
I plan on getting a 40g so he can grow very big. He is going to be 6 or 7'' long so I want him to get at least a foot long.
I did have a question though. I plan to feed mine twice a week so he doesnt horde food. Will that be enough?
Thanks.
Not sure, but what species are you looking to get? A 12" long smasher would easily break a tanks glass. The 6-7" mantis' can even do that. They dont grow to the size of the aquarium. They grow to the size of their species. Do you know what species the LFS is going to order?
Mark
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
I would have no problem putting a peacock in a 40g glass tank.
We've all heard the stories... they definitely have the .22 caliber thing going on.
BUT, have y'all ever heard from first hand of this ever happening to someone? I have never actually heard of it for real. There use to be a forum called GrimReefers (hacked and gone now, so I can say it), where all the mantis people hung out. This topic would come up every now and then. We had never ever heard anything besides just rumours.
Put a sheet of acrylic under the sand if you are nervous. That's where they will do the repetitious pounding to try and tunnel down further.
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
Ok. Thank you for the reassurance Cranberry.
How deep of a sand bed would you recommend? And what grain of sand?
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
It's a standard size guide that applies to all sand regardless of brand.
Mine is number 3 grade.... lemme see if I can find something a little more specific for ya.
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
Okie Dokie Thank you very much.
Is there anything wrong with putting my soon to be mantis in a bowfront aquarium? Is that glass weaker or should I be ok?
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
Haha ok. Thank you for all the advice. Not too much useful info out on the web about taking care of them. Just how to exterminate them
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
No, there's not so much out there to read on them.... So when you get yours, we'll talk all about him and then there'll be more info out there for peeps to read and add to!
Caldwell is really good. Everything he's written has information he's gathered through actual studies.
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
Awesome Blossum.
I have read some of his research. Its very good and informative. One of the first places I went to when I started researching
 
the_bandit

the_bandit

Member
Im not sure if you answered this or not Cranberry but how many times do you feed your mantis? I plan on feeding mine maybe twice a week and every other week try and get him a Green Emerald Crab or a Fiddler crab.
 
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