Anybody ever done a nano-reef with a Mantis below?

[Eleusis]

I'm in the process of planning my next tank.

It will be 12 gallons with major LEDs (Steve's LEDs retrofit) and 10g sump/refuge/chaeto, with submersible skimmer.

I know I want the corals, but am working on what livestock with a brain.

So far, my top 3 are:

Royal Gramma with Cleaner or Coral Banded shrimp

Shrimp/Goby Pair. (I was hoping for sandbed around 1 1/2 inches but am open)

Peacock Mantis. This is the big one. Is it even possible?

Thanks, any and all advice appreciated.

 

[FITZ7]

I would not try this. I'm not an expert on mantis shrimp, but it will most likely kill and eat anything/everything it can. If you were listing those off as separate options I still think it would end up getting too big, but there are some other species that would probably do fine in a 12 gal.

 

[OrionN]

Peacock Mantis would be nice. However, they tend to like dim light so keeping coral with them is not easy. He likely will go after your cleaner crew and you have to replace them and feed him well.
I have a common mantis shrimp from Tampa Bay live rock. He is doing very well in my 65 gal. I just try my best to feed him once a week or so. He occasionally goes after the snail if don't feed him well. Doing well in my tank for 4-5 years. Initially there were 2 but one kill the other so there is only 1 in the tank right now.

 

[Averhoeven]

Could you keep a peacock in a fuge below?

 

[OrionN]

I am sure you can. Give him enough stuff to build his den and feed him. We will do fine in dimmer light and good water quality. They have problem with shell rot if they are keep in poor water condition. I keep two mantis long term, but no Peacock Mantis, so I am not the most experienced but more so than most Reefer. So keep my advices with a grain of salt. They are easy creature to keep.

 

[CAMAKAZY]

12g an a peacock is a no go. They get pretty big. That said there are several smaller species of smashers that are fine for 12g. I had a 8g reef with a smithii for like 4 years. He never touched the coral, but they will eat all clean up members. Im actually setting up my 8g again. So im in the market for a small smasher.