What if I WANT a Mantis in my 40gallon?

schro · 01/22/2010, 11:00 PM

What critters would be safe?

Will a Mantis mess with nems and corals?

Could I still put together a cleanup crew? How about echinoderms, would they be safe (or effective as a CUC)?

You gotta admit stomatopods are pretty cool critters, I just want to know if it is possible to keep one any way other than a species tank.

noahm · 01/22/2010, 11:04 PM

You can have whatever corals you want. brittle and serpent stars are fine. If you feed them off of a skewer or tongs, they will leave most of your CUC alone and you may just have to get a handful of snails or hermits every so often. Some depends on the species, as some can get larger and may take on anything, but for the most part, corals, anemones, and stars are all safe. If it is a smasher type, even a fish or two will usually be left alone. Blennies make good tank mates with some mantis. They are very wiley and will stay out of danger.

Come catch my last N. wennerae and its yours

schro · 01/22/2010, 11:26 PM

Thanks Noahm.

So why such a hate on for them?

The other thing I am stll wondering is if I can put together an effective clean up crew that would not all just end up as bait?

Lateralus · 01/23/2010, 10:59 AM

Not sure theres a whole lot of hate for them but they should be respected for what they are. Killers.

ritter6788 · 01/23/2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

Not sure theres a whole lot of hate for them but they should be respected for what they are. Killers.

I don't hate them at all, I want one in it's own tank but they will wipe out lots of other livestock that I like too.

mykdf · 01/23/2010, 11:13 AM

You should check out Roy's List. Do a google search or go to the mantis forum-there's a sticky. Also be sure to look around in the mantis forum. THere's a ton of info in there about lighting, feeding, co-habitation, etc.

I'm currently living with a mantis in my 55 reef. However, I'm in the process of linking a 10 gallon mantis tank into my reef tank. When it's finished, I'll have the 55 gal reef DT AND the 10 gal. mantis tank hooked into a 29 gal sump. The lighting in the mantis tank won't be nearly as intense either-a bonus for Mr. Mantis.

schro · 01/23/2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykdf

I'm currently living with a mantis in my 55 reef.

What do you have in your tank for CUC? Or do you just have the usual snails and crabs, and keep replacing them?

mykdf · 01/23/2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schro

What do you have in your tank for CUC? Or do you just have the usual snails and crabs, and keep replacing them?

blue leg hermits, snails, and peppermint shrimp. I do have a high mortality rate but I can lay much of that at the various hitchhiker crabs I've got in my rock. The smallest of the blue legs take the brunt of it. Once they get past a certain size, they're pretty safe. My mantis is only about 2 in long.

schro · 01/23/2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahm

Come catch my last N. wennerae and its yours

I looked up that species on Roy's list. How did you end up with N. Wennerae? Did you put Florida aquacultured rock in your tank and get him in as a hitchhiker, or was he an intentional purchase?

schro · 01/23/2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykdf

You should check out Roy's List. Do a google search or go to the mantis forum-there's a sticky. Also be sure to look around in the mantis forum.

I checked that out. Still looking through the forum. Thanks.

Roy's list is excellent.

lordofthereef · 01/23/2010, 08:21 PM

Another thing to consider is that you will have to be cautious when putting your hands in the tank. If you keep corals and the like, chances are you WILL have to move stuff around. Mantis shrimps can easily bust your finger open before you know what hit you.

noahm · 01/23/2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schro

I looked up that species on Roy's list. How did you end up with N. Wennerae? Did you put Florida aquacultured rock in your tank and get him in as a hitchhiker, or was he an intentional purchase?

Yes to the aquacultured rock. I had a few, including a sweet lime green morph, but have slowly trapped them and given them to the LFS. One is left, but basically harmless. I feed him every once in a while, but don't see him much. He takes out a snail once every week or so if I don't feed him. I still have lots of procelain crabs that he has left alone for the most part. Eats barnacles like candy though.

01/22/2010, 11:00 PM	#1
schro Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Posts: 32	What if I WANT a Mantis in my 40gallon? What critters would be safe? Will a Mantis mess with nems and corals? Could I still put together a cleanup crew? How about echinoderms, would they be safe (or effective as a CUC)? You gotta admit stomatopods are pretty cool critters, I just want to know if it is possible to keep one any way other than a species tank. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein. Current Tank Info: planning and building a 40 breeder

01/22/2010, 11:26 PM	#3
schro Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Posts: 32	Thanks Noahm. So why such a hate on for them? The other thing I am stll wondering is if I can put together an effective clean up crew that would not all just end up as bait? __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein. Current Tank Info: planning and building a 40 breeder

01/23/2010, 10:59 AM	#4
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	Not sure theres a whole lot of hate for them but they should be respected for what they are. Killers. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

01/23/2010, 11:13 AM	#6
mykdf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 86	You should check out Roy's List. Do a google search or go to the mantis forum-there's a sticky. Also be sure to look around in the mantis forum. THere's a ton of info in there about lighting, feeding, co-habitation, etc. I'm currently living with a mantis in my 55 reef. However, I'm in the process of linking a 10 gallon mantis tank into my reef tank. When it's finished, I'll have the 55 gal reef DT AND the 10 gal. mantis tank hooked into a 29 gal sump. The lighting in the mantis tank won't be nearly as intense either-a bonus for Mr. Mantis. __________________ Great story, Gordy. Current Tank Info: 55g with 29g sump, 300 watts MH

01/23/2010, 08:21 PM	#11
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Another thing to consider is that you will have to be cautious when putting your hands in the tank. If you keep corals and the like, chances are you WILL have to move stuff around. Mantis shrimps can easily bust your finger open before you know what hit you. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

01/22/2010, 11:04 PM	#2
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	You can have whatever corals you want. brittle and serpent stars are fine. If you feed them off of a skewer or tongs, they will leave most of your CUC alone and you may just have to get a handful of snails or hermits every so often. Some depends on the species, as some can get larger and may take on anything, but for the most part, corals, anemones, and stars are all safe. If it is a smasher type, even a fish or two will usually be left alone. Blennies make good tank mates with some mantis. They are very wiley and will stay out of danger. Come catch my last N. wennerae and its yours