I researched my Mantis for what must have been nigh on a year before getting one, and I don't regret it one bit.
The mantis I kept was pseudosquilla ciliata, a spearing species. I kept with him some hermits and turbo snails, and these were never touched. Fish however, were a definite no-no. I never even tried.
Mantis shrimp love to bury, but you can save them the bother, get a PVC pipe for a peacock. 20g for a peacock should be sufficient.
I fed mine on sand eels and prawns, when he attached them, he was quite violent with it.
He attacked the algae scraper, and that was quite terrifying. He also used to attack a steel skewer as well. He learnt very quickly that if I showed him the skewer, and he punched it, straight away I would feed him. They are very intelligent creatures.
I had to get rid of mine because with all my freshwater tanks, I simply don't have time for a saltwater tank as well, until i get an RO unit. I was algae scraping every day. That's not an exagerration, but because my water is so high in phosphates, algae had a field day, which was a real shame because I loved my mantis.
Pseudosquila ciliata frequently leave their burrows too, so I saw him a lot, but he was very good at hiding, I'm sure he saw me a lot more than I saw him!
They don't break aquarium glass unless trained to. Don't worry about that. If it gives you piece of mind, put some perspex on the floor of the aquarium a few inches thick.
He was a really fantastic pet, and I wish i still had him to be honest.
be sure to update with pictures!
The mantis I kept was pseudosquilla ciliata, a spearing species. I kept with him some hermits and turbo snails, and these were never touched. Fish however, were a definite no-no. I never even tried.
Mantis shrimp love to bury, but you can save them the bother, get a PVC pipe for a peacock. 20g for a peacock should be sufficient.
I fed mine on sand eels and prawns, when he attached them, he was quite violent with it.
He attacked the algae scraper, and that was quite terrifying. He also used to attack a steel skewer as well. He learnt very quickly that if I showed him the skewer, and he punched it, straight away I would feed him. They are very intelligent creatures.
I had to get rid of mine because with all my freshwater tanks, I simply don't have time for a saltwater tank as well, until i get an RO unit. I was algae scraping every day. That's not an exagerration, but because my water is so high in phosphates, algae had a field day, which was a real shame because I loved my mantis.
Pseudosquila ciliata frequently leave their burrows too, so I saw him a lot, but he was very good at hiding, I'm sure he saw me a lot more than I saw him!
They don't break aquarium glass unless trained to. Don't worry about that. If it gives you piece of mind, put some perspex on the floor of the aquarium a few inches thick.
He was a really fantastic pet, and I wish i still had him to be honest.
be sure to update with pictures!
. I'm leaning towards keeping an n. wennerae as they only get to 2" max and I can get away with keeping it in a 2.5 or 5g (still not sure which). This will not be an overnight thing, probably a couple months before I get water in the tank even, want to do it right this time. Gonna mock up some tanks and lighting tonight and see what I like the looks of 
Isn't a sump for such a small tank (10g did u say?) unecessary?
. lol :stupid:
