Peacock Mantis Help Needed

[SkiFletch]

Well its time, ever since I saw a video of a peacock mantis on the net about 6+ months ago I've been smitten with them . Now that my halides are done and by the weekend my powerheads and a couple re-plumbing tasks done, I'm overcome with the urge to start up a mantis nano. I know people have done it, so I'm looking for as much info as possible on the subject. Even if you dont know anything yourself about it but know someone who does, I'd appreciate it if you pointed me in their direction.

My biggest questions are:
Minimum tank size? (2.5g, 5g, 10g)?
Will they kill jumbo mexican turbo snails?
Where can I find one in the states other than liveaquaria.com that I can see before I purchase it?

Any help you guys can offer would be appreciated.

Wish I could get one with a color pattern like this one

 

[SkiFletch]

Apparently the search function is my friend...

Fella apparently allready made a mantis nano

Also, a couple cool videos of some guy's small office cube nano

Movie 1
Movie 2

 

[Redstratplayer1]

Yaaaaaay

Go with the 10 gal

Tim

Tim the super mantis

 

[SkiFletch]

And, a listing of different species amongst the various mantis genus'

 

[SkiFletch]

Yaaaaaay

Go with the 10 gal

Tim

Tim the super mantis

ROTFL, thats an awesome thread

 

[Lynden]

The mighty SkiFletch needs help?

Unforunately, my knowledge of Mantis Shrimp basically includes that they are (in my opinion) the most highly evolved animals on Earth, with super strength, super eyes, and super intellect.

As far as I know, they will not kill Turbo Snails - and most other animals - as long as they are well-fed. I have seen them being kept with Hermit Crabs and Snails, but I have also seen one destroy a Cancer (?) Edible Crab as big as the Mantis itself was.

The Spearers are supposed to be safe with many invertebrates, and the Smashers with many fish. In fact, I belive there is a user on this board that keeps a small Smasher with some fish, and has seen no trouble from it.

-Lynden

 

[SkiFletch]

Thanks Lynden. I'm leaning towards a smasher cause from what I read, they are more likely to be out/active than the spearers who seem to lve being reclusive in the sand bed. Also fish will be out of the question as the tank will either be an AGA 2.5 or 5g tank probably with sump

 

[SkiFletch]

As an aside I think I'm going to drill the tank and hide the sump in a dresser drawer

 

[sparklefuzz]

As an aside I think I'm going to drill the tank and hide the sump in a dresser drawer

God forbid you could do this without involving plumbing. LOL!!!

 

[SkiFletch]

LMAO, gotta have plumbing I've allready got a mini sump built, just need to drill and pipe, Matthew will be proud

 

[Ranger]

Sorry Ski, I failed you. I went on a super secret squirrel mission on wednesday when it was low tide and the tidepools were open for business. I tried to find you one of the SoCal species and take a picture of it. They must have known I was coming, cuz I didn't find any. Even though I did find an octopus, some big crabs, and a bunch of rockfish.

 

[SkiFletch]

Lol, thanks for the effort Ranger. Next tim you'll have to be more sneaky

 

[Ranger]

Lol, thanks for the effort Ranger. Next tim you'll have to be more sneaky

Consider it done . Is this just an urban legend, or do mantis shrimp(the smashers) really break aquarium glass? If so, have you taken that into consideration?

 

[SkiFletch]

They can, but they often dont as long as a sufficient territory is provided. If you put one inside a plastic jug next to a piece of LR for instance, it'll break out of the jug to get into the LR. They do not seem to have a desire to break out and go exploring desks or stands . The other way they can smash tanks is if they burrow and find the bottom glass they may smash that. To combat that I plan to silicone two thin pieces of sacrificial acrylic to the bottom so that he can break those if he wants

 

[Lynden]

Ièd like to seem him try to break acrylic

So, Ièm going to go ahaead and butt in I also plan to put a Mantis Shrimp in my ÈAquaFugeÈ thing that Ièm ordering, which is 2è by 4èè by 13èè. I wonder how this will work.

By the way, how on Earth do you plan to do your plumbing on a 2.5 gallon tankÉ Canèt wait to see the results.

-Lynden