Requirements for mantis

[barry cuda]

I'm thinking of starting a small (20 gal or under) tank for a mantis, and am realizing I don't really know what their needs are. Anybody who keeps/has kept a mantis like to give me the rundown on how often to feed, water quality requirements, etc?

 

[innsmouth]

Okay, mantis are pretty easy and were the first thing I ever kept was a peacock. For smaller mantis a 20 gallon is fine. Just hook it up with some LR, larger pieces and some rubble for it to build with. I fed mine a piece of shrimp or squid once a day and maybe some krill here and there. I also put in a few emerald crabs and snails so it would hunt. They can lose their dactyls during a molt if they don't use em. Water quality is the same for most fish and inverts. Nothing fancy. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 50 or less nitrates and a ph between 8.0 and 8.4 should do fine. Now post some pics when you get it togther.

 

[barry cuda]

You think a 20 is the way to go? I've got my eye on a nanocube, but they aren't real big. Could I reasonably keep a smaller mantis in something that size?
And can anyone confirm for me that the mantises SWF sells are peacocks?

 

[innsmouth]

I have a nanocube and I can definitley say it is way too small for a peacock. You might look into one of the smaller Atlantic species though which would be perfect. I'm not sure what SWF sells but if it's not stated then it probably isn't a peacock so you might be in luck with them. Give it a shot.

 

[moto757]

he barry keep us informed on what you do I was planning on doing the same thing here pretty soon. I found 2 other sites that had mantis shrimp actually in stock since this one doesn't let me know how it goes and what size tank you us.

 

[barry cuda]

At this point it looks like it's definitely going to be a nanocube. I have to wait a little bit, though, cause the wife is first in line and we only have spare funds for one this month. I promised her a clown tank for her birthday...seems she has a thing for percs. Moto, could you email me at flankerbait at hotmail dot com and let me know what the other sites were? I'd like to check 'em out.
Thanks!

 

[lv-reefer]

I have my mantis in a 2.5 gallon tank with 1 large piece of live rock. He is only about 1 inch in size, I put a nass snail in with him and he finally killed it after about a month. I also have 2 aptisia's on the rock, I'm feeding them, trying to get them to grow huge. 1 is already about 3-4 inches. My mantis was a hitch hicker on some FL live rock. He is pretty cool, I just feed him raw shrimp from the grocery store.

 

[rbmount]

My peacock is in a 20 I had spare. I put a piece of shrimpor krill in the tank and push it near with a stick and it jumps out grabs it then shoots back under it's rock.

 

[jawfishray]

Howdy,
I have done dozens of hours of research prior to buying my mantis, a peacock 6+". And you would not want a peacock in a small tank.
But there are 3-4 reefers every week finding mantis in their liverock. TBS live rock is famous for their mantis availability.
Keep your eyes open or email me and I will drop you all of my mantis resourses, I have about a dozen.
Good luck.
Ray Boemler
www.peanutbutterjellyfish.com

 

[moto757]

drop me an email moto757@comcast.net thanks