peacock mantis

Im wanting to get a peacock mantis. been reading alot about them they say i need a acrylic tank. where could i find one and what size. nothing i have read tells me about what all i need for the tank but lots of sand and live rock

 

You don't necessarily need acrylic, but it's nice to have the peace of mind. Only a fully grown peacock (7"+) has a remote chance of breaking glass, anyways. Even then, mantis aren't stupid, they don't go around hitting the glass with full force like mindless zombies. The only thing to watch out for is the bottom glass, because when they get into digging mode, they'll see that glass as just another rock to move.

What I'd do is I'd try to find a tank 20+ gallons (with lots of horizontal room) with 3/8" glass or 1/4" acrylic. If you get a glass tank, I'd go to a store somewhere and have 1/4" or less acrylic cut to fit over the bottom to compensate for the digging scenario I mentioned.

3reef had a popular mantis named Bob who lived his life in a 29 biocube, and we've had some others who have lived in 20g and 29g tanks.

I had a thread going earlier in the year about safe glass thickness for a fully grown peacock, and we conlcuded either 3/8" glass or 1/4" acrylic would be ideal. But you'd be fine with a standard 1/4", it's just the thicker glass gives some peace of mind IMO.

As for where to find a tank, my LFS has connections that could build any size and type of tank I'd want. So, if that's an option I'd go that route. However, another good source is GlassCages.com for online tanks. They have all sorts of glass and acrylic tanks in standard dimensions, and you can order custom dimensions if you'd like (higher price). Glasscages.com - Home

 

thanks for the info

 

well said jwin. that pretty much covers it, jwin do you know whee i can get a l. malculata, or zebra mantis?