Gallons with or without sand?

[HappyPotatoes]

Imagine I have a spearer-variety of mantis shrimp that's about 4 inches. I've read that the sand bed should be about 1.5 times the length, so it would be 6 inches deep. For a shrimp this size, I've also read ten gallons is sufficient. But would it be the overall space should be 10 gallons (including the deep sandbed), or just there should be at least 10 gallons of water in the overall tank.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Gallon requirements for livestock are generally the display volume.

 

[HappyPotatoes]

Sorry, I don't understand. Would this be including all the space the sand bed takes up, or only the volume of water in the tank?

 

[Goodair]

6" sandbed in a 10gal tank is pretty much half the tank. If your looking to do a mantis shrimp only tank, look for a 10-20 gal tank thats 18" inches or more tall.

 

[HappyPotatoes]

That's what I thought. Thanks for explaining!