Mantis Shrimp, 3 gallon nano

[Coralreefdiver]

I was in the LFS today, looking for a replacement Blenny or some other new fishy to add to my 24 NC.....and well, did not really come across anything I needed to have, and it seems everything I want gets to big!!!!

I want something a little bright, and something that likes to hang out in front. I have one purple firefish and a regular firefish. Any suggestions?

BUT....what I did come across, was a Mantis Shrimp that the LFS had found after cleaning out the live rock pond. They had it in a clear container in a tank, and thought.....EWWWW....idea! I can take my 3 gallon Eclipse I have been wanting to do something with and make it a little home for this Mantis!

So, after asking the LFS how much he was, they relucantly told me I could just have him (I think the guys there like feeding him.....). So I bought some Agralive sand, 3 # of live rock, and walla...I have a set up! I had some of the bottled ocean water left from a water change after treating for flat worms in my NC the other day.

I kept the filtration set up, and ended up putting poly filter in the filter part, and then where the bio-wheel was I just stuffed it full of live rock rubble. I put a heater in the water, put the sand in along with a cup of sand from my established tank, and put the rocks in. Then I dumped the mantis in after floating for a bit.

Has anyone kept these in a small tank? I was reading online, and it seems very easy to keep them. I am wondering if I even need to keep a heater in the tank?

I do not know what species it is. It is only about 2 inches long, and is a reddish brown in color at the moment. Perhaps it is a baby?? It ate a ghost shrimp tonight, and in about half a second reached out and snapped it, stunning it on its back...so it is a "smasher" and not a "spearer"....

Just thought maybe someone else has kept them, or might know about them. I just thought it would make an interesting pet in an unused tank.


Cheers!

Khara

 

[drty811]

sounds sweet.....never kept one before, good luck with it and keep us informed. if you can a pic would help in indentifing it.

 

[roo]

Pictures pictures!! Those are mean lil devils!!! I'm sure they'd be cool to keep as a pet in tank like that. I just recently found out from my girl that they are the tasty sushi known as shako ebi. My girl is also threatening to eat my peppermint shrimp if they attack my hermits again. I'm suprised this hobby is popular in Japan...I'm sure it's more a live menu than anything else hehe.

 

[EDGRAY]

Pictures pictures!! Those are mean lil devils!!! I'm sure they'd be cool to keep as a pet in tank like that. I just recently found out from my girl that they are the tasty sushi known as shako ebi. My girl is also threatening to eat my peppermint shrimp if they attack my hermits again. I'm suprised this hobby is popular in Japan...I'm sure it's more a live menu than anything else hehe.

:lol: :lol:.... LIVE MENU :lol3:

and well i guess you rush to much in the system with not letting it cycle at least one week but i hope the mantis is ok and well they are really hardy of what i search and well dont feed him gost shrimps they are not that nutricious for him cause is a difference between freshwater shrimp and saltwater shrimp so you best bet is to feed him some Mysis he will love that mmmm :mrgreen:...

I dont know alot mantis but a fact is that you wont be able to introduce any snails,hermits, small fish or small shrimp cause he will defenitle go for them ...

So good luck with him... and cant wait to see some pics of him....

 

[Coralreefdiver]

Pictures pictures!! Those are mean lil devils!!! I'm sure they'd be cool to keep as a pet in tank like that. I just recently found out from my girl that they are the tasty sushi known as shako ebi. My girl is also threatening to eat my peppermint shrimp if they attack my hermits again. I'm suprised this hobby is popular in Japan...I'm sure it's more a live menu than anything else hehe.

:lol: :lol:.... LIVE MENU :lol3:

and well i guess you rush to much in the system with not letting it cycle at least one week but i hope the mantis is ok and well they are really hardy of what i search and well dont feed him gost shrimps they are not that nutricious for him cause is a difference between freshwater shrimp and saltwater shrimp so you best bet is to feed him some Mysis he will love that mmmm :mrgreen:...

I dont know alot mantis but a fact is that you wont be able to introduce any snails,hermits, small fish or small shrimp cause he will defenitle go for them ...

So good luck with him... and cant wait to see some pics of him....

I don't think that the Mantis will be harmed with putting him in a new tank. I did use Agra live sand, the bottled seawater, and seeded the tank with sand from my established system. Live rock was cured. I do expect some swings and that sort, but from what I hear, these Mantis are almost impossible to kill!

Some sites even say tanks with no filtration, and just weekly water changes. The good thing is, its only a 3 gallon tank, and with the sand and rock I would say I am only using about 2 gallons if that of water, so I can give the tank very easy water changes, and change it completely if needed.

I think a Mantis is pretty hardy, being that they are able to live in a rock, shipped across the world, and still be fine in a tank. There are even accounts of a Mantis being put in a jar (sealed), without water, for 3 days, and the sucker was still alive and fine.

I might put a blue devil or something in the tank, just so I do have something swimming around. I do not think that this guy can catch and eat fish at this size, but will keep an eye on it.

I took some photos, but my stupid printers not working after a big lightning strike. I will figure that out and then take some photos. He is very neat, and VERY active. It's like he knows the space is his, and nothings going to eat him, and he does not have to hide. He has been cruising around hunting today, and created a little hole in the rock, where he has been lifting little rocks his size up and arranging them outside his burrow.

As far as the Shrimp that I am feeding him goes, perhaps they are Mysis? Do they look the same as the ghosts? A few of the shrimp are in the tank, and have been for over 24 hrs......I would think they would be dead if they were freshies...... I had just asked the guy at the LFS to get me some shrimp to take to feed him.

 

[brandon]

From what i have read, most mantis shrimp need a tank bigger than 3 gallons.
(but who listens to websites... :mrgreen

I think its cool that you got a mantis.

Are you just going to feed it ghost shrimp? or are snails and hermits on the menu too?

are you just a little scared of aquascaping the tank now? :mrgreen:

 

[Moorish_Idol]

I have seen many mantis shrimp when I go to the beach and put on my googles, I have seen them green, yellow, red and white. I used to have 2 on my reef tank 'til I knew that in a 55gal tank they can grow up to 6 inches and eat the fishes, snails, hermit crabs etc.

 

[Coralreefdiver]

Size

I have seen many mantis shrimp when I go to the beach and put on my googles, I have seen them green, yellow, red and white. I used to have 2 on my reef tank 'til I knew that in a 55gal tank they can grow up to 6 inches and eat the fishes, snails, hermit crabs etc.

Looks like through looking at different sites, that the kind I have will only max out at 2 inches.

I don't plan on putting anything else in the tank, or putting corals or anything. Just the Mantis......so I don't think a 3 gallon is too small. And if he outgrows the tank, then that just gives me an excuse to go get a bigger one, or to let the guys at the LFS have fun again with the mantis.

Some of these Mantis get over 12 inches! THAT would be scary when diving!!!

Khara

 

[brandon]

^^ LOL 12 inches

 

[TimSchmidt]

Reef Central has a forum just for mantis shrimp and they have a pretty good ID post stickied at the top. Name it yet?

 

[Coralreefdiver]

No name yet...

Reef Central has a forum just for mantis shrimp and they have a pretty good ID post stickied at the top. Name it yet?

:lol3: No name yet! Any suggestions? He is a total stalker, and extremely smart for such a small creature.

He has created a little hole right up front (perfect for viewing!) and hang out there when not hunting. I was watching him today, and that little sucker was down at the base of the rock, actually hitting the rock and knocking small chunks (actually HIS size) of the live rock and carrying them to his hole! It's amazing the power this little guy has! if he can bust up live rock at his size, I can imagine this little 2 inch bugger could pack a punch to my finger!!!

I will check the reef central site out. Thanks!

 

[drty811]

any pics..... :mrgreen:

 

[Coralreefdiver]

Photos of the little guy

any pics..... :mrgreen:

Okay took some photos the other night. Here he is. Sorry the photos are not closer up and better. He's mainly a maroon, with green, an his little tail has blue around the feathery ends. I am hoping after he molts a few times he might get more color, or maybe not. Either way, hes very neat to have.

I looked on reef central, and I STILL cannot ID this fellow...any thoughts?

K

 

[little urchin]

he looks great....i love his colouring :loveface

 

[drty811]

wow hes amazing.....kind of looks like a peacock mantis, i think thats the name. could be wrong though.

hows the noise at night?

 

[brandon]

very nice mantis, what do you feed him?

 

[Coralreefdiver]

ID, food, noise

He's in the other room, so I don't hear him. He makes popping noises though when he hunts and when hes breaking chunks of rock off...

I have no idea what he is, perhaps he will get brighter with a few molts. I don't know!

I feed him Ghost Shrimp live, frozen Mysis shrimp, live brine, and an occasional hermit crab (which he loves)....

 

[EDGRAY]

WOW thats a really nice Mantis... i dont know how i miss the pics until today... nice... :mrgreen:

 

[olivia640]

If you do put a heater in your tank get one that's not made of glass (same goes for the thermometer). They like to tap on things and could possibly break a glass heater/thermometer.

Happy mantis keeping! They're oddly endearing little creatures aren't they?

 

[Coralreefdiver]

You didn't miss it

WOW thats a really nice Mantis... i dont know how i miss the pics until today... nice... :mrgreen:

I just put the photos on yesterday

He's cool. Very funny today, he walled himself up for the night, and now has spent most of the morning trying to get out! He walled himself up to well, and is now popping the rocks to move them outta the way!

Endearing in so many ways. I would love to get one of the brightly colored ones next. They are so cool and would tell anyone to take the time to have one....you wont be dissapointed.

K