mantis care

I found a little peacock mantis shrimp in my reef tank and i took him out and put him in a bucket with maybe 2 gallons of water and a heater. He is about 1'' long and he's really colorful and i saw that on the way to the toilet so im keeping him.

What size tank do i need ?

I have a IQ3 tank with 5lbs of sand and nothing in it. It has bin running for 7weeks now. Would this be ok for him ? and if so could i still have mixed corals in the tank cause thats way i bought it.

 

We need to determine the species before I can give care recommendations. Peacock mantis or O. scyllarus are not known hitch hikers, but I wont say it isn't possible. Do you happen to know where the rock came from? Can you take pictures? I'd need a picture of the tail, top, and front with the meral spots showing.

At 1" he will be fine in the IQ3 for now, and will mostly be fine with mixed corals. He may move some frags depending on how much he likes decorating, but thats about it.

 

il post pic's tomorrow. 60% of the rock is fiji and the other 40 is some really holly light live rock i got on sale for 2.99$ per pound

It is a peacock i know by the rainbow color tail.

 

If it is a peacock it would definitely out grow a IQ3. A 25-30 gal acrylic would be better suited for it.

I really think you might be mistaken though on the species. This would be the first ever hitch hiker peacock mantis, and while I don't like to say things are impossible, its not very likely. Peacocks do not live in cavities in rock, they build their homes out of rubble. There are several other species with colorful telsons. O. scyllarus is easily identified by leopard spots on the side of its carapace.

 

Mantis shrimp | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Cool mantis. My assumption was right though its not a peacock you can tell by the purple meral spots. It is either G. smithii or N. oerstedii either way it should be a pretty active mantis and will fit an IQ3 a lot better than a O. Scyllarus.

I really want to say it is a G. smithii but I can't say for certain at this angle. Would be a great hitch hiker if it is since they retail for $50 plus shipping.

 

Really 50$ wow.
I don't know why but anytime i buy live rock from my LFS i get hitch hikers.
I have had 2crabs Not reef safe ones 1fish it died sadly and a baby snow flake ell about 2'' but i have not seen him in 8 mounts and now a mantis

 

and a horse shoe crab

 

that is one wicked peacock mantis. awesome find!