Thinking about a mantis

My main tank is downstairs in the theater room where we spend less time. I've decided to do a small simple tank upstairs in the living room where we hang out. I had a thought about doing a small mantis or harlequin tank with maybe some cool shrooms and zoos. It'll be a 20g long tank so I'm wondering what else I can put in there for livestock. What ideas do you guys have? Lighting will be minimal. Prob LEDs and prob no sump. Thanks all

 

If your going the mantis route there is nothing else you can add, going the other route gives you more options

 

My son's mantis tank has had a damsel in it for close to 2 years now. The mantis is small and they don't bother each other. My mantis is larger and lives with a purple pseudochromis - they actually share the same "den," which is really weird. Any snails or crabs put in the mantis tank will be smashed and eaten. Both of ours are smashers - I don't know about spearers.

 

you can keep plenty with a mantis wether the mantis decides to leave it alone or not well you cant help that.. i have 2 peppermint shrimp, a royal gamma, and a chromis with my big mantis and i keep a small mantis in my main tank with no issues .. but not all mantis shrimp will do the same sooo its kinda your own risk type of thing

 

If you get a mantis and want tankmates, try going for the cheaper fish. If one works out and you like it, then there you go. But again like what was already said, it depends on whether the mantis wants to or not

 

You could also make it a seahorse/small pipefish tank. I don't think they need anymore space and they're something you can't keep in your main.

 

So you mean I'd have more options with the harlequin?

 

That's the plan for a 3rd small tank. Waiting to find a decent hexagon tank or something. But that's a definite

 

Maybe then I'll be better off with the 10g instead of using a bigger 20. Now, harlequins or mantis....

 

id go mantis but you will prob take a little while to find one .. i came across both of mine by luck. one came in my live rock and my lfs said they had one for 15bucks turn out being a Odontodactylus havanensis. some of the other members can give you the names of the more interactive ones though