mantis shrimp

so... i'm assuming a peacock is about the best ya can get? i just don't want to cough up the money for an acrylic tank... especially a small one, for a single animal... but, a peacock seems to be the only one you can easily find for sale... but, the way you make it sound, and from other sources, if they recognize you as "the bringer of food" (direct quote, can't remember from who tho), then they won't go ballistic on the glass... so in that sense, all is at peace... but what about the "pre-dinner showdown"? could a peacock accidentally hit the glass hard enough during the attack? but, i guess with the vision they have, they would be able to tell exactly where the clubs are going.. that being said, there would be no "accident"... i know the idea of them breaking glass is actually slim to none, but if i decide to get one, i want to plan for the worst case scenario... i don't want him to break free in the middle of the night, then hide under my bed and play the waiting game, just to attack my foot when i wake up in the morning...hehehe.... monsters under my bed... gotta love it!

 

Until a peacock hits 5 inches or so, a glass tank is fine.

There are occasionally smaller species available at liveaquaria or even tampabaysaltwater.com

 

Not to argue with inwall (especially because I have NO experience with them) but check out reefcentral.com and go to the Mantis Shrimp threads.

Most people like the N. Wennerae because you can use a glass tank of pretty much any size Also, FWIW I've read that some of the larger mantids (ie peacock) start to have trouble in captivity. <They might have a bad shed, or some actually develop a type of chronic wasting disease ...we assume it is because of lighting.

^Always find out what depth your mantis hails from! Do not over-light them as it is another source of stress

BTW, at TampaBaySaltwater they have The N. Wen 90% of the time (as it is commonly found in FL)

 

You aren't arguing at all.

They are more prone to shell disease in both the wild and in captivity. The reasons are not fully understood at this point and lighting is one of the possibilities.

yep

 

I have a female Gonodactylaceus ternatensis that is beautiful and a good pet, even though she is just about the most unfriendly critter that I've ever owned! I feed her mostly krill, but also keep a good supply of astrea snails for cleanup and good smashing fun. Here's Dr. Roy's writeup of them.
Definitely a fascinating pet.

 

GraviT, that's what i've decided on... i've read that a peacock would need up to a 25 gallon aquarium (i think from reefcentral).. hehehe... unfriendly critter... that would be the reason for a separate tank, correct? i read a forum "summers" (somewhere), about a guy wanting to get a mantis, and he finally decided on a gonodactylus smithii (purple spotted mantis), a N. wennerae, and the G. ternatensis... i looked up these 3, and i chose the last one because they get the biggest of the 3... (the others at 3-3.5", this one at 5").... i like the peacocks, but i'm still just weary about the whole glassbreaking deal... and i'd rather spend 50 bucks for a sufficently setup aquarium as opposed to 150... and ironically, a 10 gallon is cheaper than a 5 gallon... well, around here anyway... the LFS guy told me its that way because 10 gallons are much more common than a 5... does the GT come out to watch you as i've heard the peacock does? i've heard that some, you don't even see until feeding time, and others will observe you in the wide open

 

it really all depends on the species. One guy at RC says his mantis (i forget which now) is ALWAYS out, and that completely contradicts that specific species behavior. No 2 animals are alike, so its a guessing game.

Talk to your LFS if you order online and see if theyd be willing to take it if it isnt as social as you would like.

Like inwall/curt and I have mentioned, TampaBaySaltwater is a great source for N. Wennerae They dont have it on their site, but if you call im sure they have one or two (and it not will get one or more they next time they pull rock out of the ocean)

 

My mantis spends a good amount of time outside of her burrow but doesn't really watch me much. When I get close to the tank, she likes to play chicken...I put my finger against the glass (acrylic really) and she goes into a meral display. Then she fakes a few strikes and makes me jump before finally smacking the tank right where my finger is. Even with the tank being 1/4" thick, it still makes my fingertip tingle. As for being unfriendly, the only time I can put my hand in there without being attacked is during water changes when the level is too low to swim up and get me.

 

this is very interesting folks and well timed. i recently was putting LR in my girlfriends new sps tank. very exciting ;D this is when i saw this critter swim out of the rock and settle on a nearby piece. he was very small (1/2" or less). i quickly netted the guy and prepared to take it to my Invert. Zoology instructor for the next day of class. we were very happy to identify it as a mantis/split thumb shrimp. also very cool is that it is bright emerald green with crisp blue 2nd maxillipeds. and yes its a baby basher i have been feeding it frozen mysis shrimp for the last week and he seems to be content eating this. my question is this: what spp could it be and how can i better care for him? he is currently in a small plastic tub with live rock. i do water changes every couple days since i dont have a home for the little guy. thanks all very interested in replies.

 

Congrats!

Good luck ID'ing him becuase you usually have to pick them up to see...

Roy's List of Stomatopods for the Aquarium

Get some snails (if your current "tank" can support it) as it is their true diet. W/O snails to smash their appendages will fall off until next molt