Mantis Vs Fish

[jakeroberts]

can u keep any fish with a mantis shrimp as they are just so beautiful

 

[ox5477]

Thats a good question. I would assume no as you can't keep any inverts with them as they will gobble them up greedily, but i wonder if some fish would be quick enough to stay out of its clutches

 

[demonmagus]

In large tanks some people do but I suppose that's not relevant - anyways I wouldn't risk it, it might be possible but the relationship should definitely be viewed as temporay

 

[Dorkhedeos]

i think it depends on the type of mantis too. if you have a spearer in there, thats pretty much a no. if its a smasher, you might be able to get away with it as long as you got plenty of inverts for food if it gets hungry. i dont think smashers will go for live fish if they arent like really really hungry so as long as they are fed, they should be fine.

 

[jakeroberts]

thanks for that i was just curious

 

[SkiFletch]

Dorkedos is right, it really depends on the mantis for the most part. Smaller (common) smasher mantids like N Wennerae, G Smithii, P cilliata can live with most "active" fish. Ironically enough, Damselfish seem to make great tank mates. Larger Mantids like an O Scyllarus (peacock) should not be kept with most smaller fish, as they will eat them eventually.

Also, the type of fish needs to be considered. You usually want fish with a little "spunk" that dont spend their lives darting in and out of rocks. Clownfish are a poor choice since they usually sleep right up next to rock formations and are asking for being eaten. Wrasses for the most part are ok too, but they of course require larger tanks. In general though, Damselfish are great partners.

 

[Danno]

Plus Damsel fish are only about five dollars whereas clownfish are around thirty. I wouldn't want a mantis to have a thirty dollar dinner! That is more then I would ever pay for one myself!

 

[Fella]

Dorkedos is right, it really depends on the mantis for the most part. Smaller (common) smasher mantids like N Wennerae, G Smithii, P cilliata can live with most "active" fish. Ironically enough, Damselfish seem to make great tank mates. Larger Mantids like an O Scyllarus (peacock) should not be kept with most smaller fish, as they will eat them eventually.

Also, the type of fish needs to be considered. You usually want fish with a little "spunk" that dont spend their lives darting in and out of rocks. Clownfish are a poor choice since they usually sleep right up next to rock formations and are asking for being eaten. Wrasses for the most part are ok too, but they of course require larger tanks. In general though, Damselfish are great partners.

P ciliata are spearers and will happily eat fish!

 

[andywg]

There are a few fish that you are almost guaranteed to be safe from a mantis shrimp. The first that comes to my mind is frogfish. The downside here is that the frogfish will almost certainly eat the shrimp...

I can think of a few fish that would get too large or bulky to be threatened by the shrimp, but then you are running the risk of the shrimp turning into lunch.

 

[kkyyllee]

try it with a damsel and then if its fine in there, you could do a clown fish. so if it gets eaten its only 2-3 dollars and not 10 dollars

 

[Dorkhedeos]

even if the damsel survives, the clown still might get eaten because its mostly in the lower parts of the tank right?

 

[SkiFletch]

even if the damsel survives, the clown still might get eaten because its mostly in the lower parts of the tank right?

They usually sleep near but not in the substrate, a recipie for disaster

 

[Synirr]

Rose ate a small damsel.... she is 2" and a smasher, and the damsel was the same size she is. She lives in a 5g and I was just using the damsel as a temporary thing to see if she would kill it. Well, there's your answer . Things might be different in a larger tank, but I would make sure the damsel is much larger than the mantis for sure.