Mantis Shrimps Help

[jawfish]

hi im new to this forum,
can anyone advise me on keeping a mantis shrimp equipment etc.
i have heard they can crack glass and i would need a plastic tank i would believe this of the peacock mantis but i was thinking more of a purple spot to start with any views please?

 

[kj23502]

welcome to the forum


I read up on Mantis awhile ago. Basically the best ones to keep are peacocks. They're more colorful. They can crack glass although it's highly unlikely. If your nervous about it, you can put another piece of glass right over the bottom glass. Or put some eggcrate down. They NEED rockwork. That's what they hide in. A simple 20ish gallon will work. The live rock you put in can be the filtration.

 

[seffieuk]

Just did a quick search for peacock mantis and there is loads of interesting threads to read on here

Just hit the search button at the top of the page on the right, oh and by the way to TFF and the salty side

Seffie x

 

[BigBeginner]

- Peacocks are basicly the most popular mantis but if the tank your getting is smaller then 20 gal, try a N. wennerae.
- They need lr AND lr rubble (or else they will just break the Lr you have in there) to make a cave, and they like to rearrange and decorate to their liking.
- They can live with corals but i wouldn't put any corals untill you see what type of personality your mantis has, as some are really mean and some are just flat out lazy and peaceful.
- Dont forget some sort of acrylic at the bottom of your tank and thr side of your tank should be ok, its very unlikely your mantis will attack your glass (unless you taunt it with food on the outside or something).
- A cover is pretty needed because they can jump.
- I know the right lighting is important but i dont know what type of lighting, someone else will have to tell you about lighting.
- Also i hear some pvc pipe in the sand can be used for a "playground" type setting.
- They eat meaty foods like prawn, shrimp, fish, and other seafoods, and they eat live crabs, and snails, or you could just feed live veryone once in a while as a treat.
- Sand doesn't really need to be more then 2 inches deep.
- After your mantis gets settled you can decorate all you want with macroalgaes, corals, more rocks, ect.
- Other equipment is basicly the same as a normal marine fish tank, lights depending on what corals, mantis, and algaes you have, flow depending on corals, (i dont think mantis really mind flow), skimmer if you want, heater
- I'm guessing calcium would be important in the water for their shell, but im not sure about this

I thought about keeping a mantis, so i did a lot of research, then i changed my mind

Hope this helps and