Mantis suggestions for a 10 or 20 gal tank

[Finding Emo]

So, I work with a friend who just got a mantis shrimp and he has a filter and heater that I can have. I was looking at getting the tank, if it will be alright from walmart or whereever for cheap. I'm not planning on getting a peacock as it would def break the glass on either the 10 or 20 gallong that i'm looking at.

So, basically, my questions are:

Which size would you recommend the 10 or 20 gallon?

And which species would you recommend?

And then what kind of lighting would be suitable?

I'm hoping that fine, black tahiti sand would be fine cuz that's what i was looking at getting. Basically throw any suggestions at me. I'm open to about anything at this point.

Thanks in advance for your time.

[Pea-brain]

P. ciliata would be a good addition for a 20 gallon (some people recommend them for tens. 15 gallons is the smallest I'd provide) if you like spearers and the option of a cleanup crew. For a ten I'd recommend N. wennerae, G. smithii or most gonodactylids on roy's list with the possible exception of G. chiragra (not active) or G. platysoma (not particularly active)

Also consider O. latirostris or O. havenensis. Incredible, cute little mantises but also very sensitive to water quality. If you can keep water quality up I'd say go for one of those. But they need HIGH water quality and very high oxygen. A small sandstorm can kill them.

Dan

[Pea-brain]

Also, Tahitian moon sand is fine on that. Most P. ciliata except orange/yellow morphs would change a neat black color on that. 20 would be the choice if you go with O. latirostris or O. havenensis. They stay small so no worries about breaking glass. Lighting depends on mantis. O.h. and O.l. wouldn't do good under bright metal halides, but P. ciliata and n. wennerae are fine with strong light. Also coral safe in case you were wondering, as long as the coral is well secured (can't be moved or buried under sand)

Dan

Dan

[Finding Emo]

Ok, thanks. So basically, Right now I'm looking at a 20 gal, with black sand and P. ciliata. What kind of lighting and filtration would i need? I know I would need one big rock and some rubble does it matter what kind of rock like where it comes from? And I'd defintately go with a stealth heater for it. Hmm...what else do I need to know...where is the best place to purchase my mantis?

[Finding Emo]

Oh, and I was hoping to go with a smasher..and it looks like P. ciliata is a spearer...which is more entertaining?

[ArgonDreams]

N. wennerae, G. smithii immediately pop to mind for a 10-20 gallon. Although both would be slightly small for a 20. I would recommend either of those if you want a smasher.

[Finding Emo]

Which would be the easiest to find a bright morph for that would stand out on the black substrate? And which of the two is more interactive?

[Pea-brain]

P. ciliata is a spearer. You can keep a cleanup crew with them (invaluable) and they are active. You can get them at stomatopod.com for like $35+shipping. N. wennerae generally turns green under aquarium lighting, and G. smithii is usually green, sometimes with red intersegmental lines like G. ternatensis. P. ciliata is more active (in most cases) than G. smithii or N. wennerae but they are all good choices.

Dan

[Finding Emo]

K, I guess I'm still not decided on which tank I'm going to use...the 10 or 20. I def want a smasher something that would be bright against the black sand. Is there any other place that Stomatopod.com that I can buy a mantis?