The Official R2R Mantis Shrimp Thread!

[ritter6788]

One of my favorite creatures on the planet. Who else is keeping them?

Here are some pics of mine and some from the past.

[video=youtube;EVZu1UCZzUI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVZu1UCZzUI&list=UU8K3chr_gB3F4eLteS5WDbA& index=13&feature=plcp[/video]
[video=youtube;mekn_IOx-UI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mekn_IOx-UI&list=UU8K3chr_gB3F4eLteS5WDbA&index=20&feature= plcp[/video]

 

[Pkunk35]

Love em!

The peacock is gorgeous, but that little ambush guy was totally awesome in the first vid.

 

[M@!]

Peacock is awesome and I love the furiosity of your Wennerae. My Wennerae has been hiding for a couple weeks. I did get an order from reefcleaners so maybe he is just too full of dwarfs? Couple of mine.
[video=youtube;sgG1Bo1l9HQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgG1Bo1l9HQ&feature=g-upl[/video]
[video=youtube;xjtLE63Nd1w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjtLE63Nd1w&feature=plcp[/video]

 

[Detroit_306]

So awesome! Anyone keep one in a glass tank?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I like it!

 

[kschweer]

This is one creature I would love to keep. I'm alway on the lookout for a small acrylic tank so I can set it up for a mantis. I have one tattooed on my arm. Such an amazing animal

 

[ritter6788]

My Wennerae has been hiding for a couple weeks. I did get an order from reefcleaners so maybe he is just too full of dwarfs? ]

Mine disappears for a couple weeks at a time too. Most likely molting. Thanks for posting the videos. I knew you had wenneraes I didn't know you had a peacock. How big is it?

 

[ritter6788]

This is one creature I would love to keep. I'm alway on the lookout for a small acrylic tank so I can set it up for a mantis. I have one tattooed on my arm. Such an amazing animal

How about pics of that tat!?

So awesome! Anyone keep one in a glass tank?

I've only used glass tanks. It's not likely that a mantis will break glass.

 

[Saltgator]

Awesome thread!!!

Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

 

[wysiwyg]

great thread ritter

 

[Docpayne]

I was curious on the set up for these guys. Is a ten gallon large enough or should they have something bigger?

 

[M@!]

Mine disappears for a couple weeks at a time too. Most likely molting. Thanks for posting the videos. I knew you had wenneraes I didn't know you had a peacock. How big is it?

I always thought the smalls guys molted faster. Good to know yours disappears for a few weeks at a time. I picked up the Peacock recently. LFS had her in a Critter Carrier under Metal Halides. I couldn't resist giving her a better home. I would guess she is about 4.5 inches. I'll try and get a good measurement tomorrow. I just picked up a bunch of fiddlers. I'll try and get a video next time I give her one.

 

[M@!]

I was curious on the set up for these guys. Is a ten gallon large enough or should they have something bigger?

30G is generally recommended for Peacocks. 5 Gallons is big enough for some of the smaller smashers.

 

[revsgirl]

Nice thread! Love those lil' guys!

 

[ritter6788]

I was curious on the set up for these guys. Is a ten gallon large enough or should they have something bigger?

M@! is correct. There are many different species and tank size and requirements differ for each. There are some spearing stomatopods that would require specialized tanks with very deep sand beds.

Here is a link to the list of stomatopods for aquariums and their requirements.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/index.html

 

[ritter6788]

I've posted this here before but this is the coolest video of an O. scyllarus in the wild.

[video=youtube;E4ZxR1C0xmc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ZxR1C0xmc[/video]

 

[M@!]

Awesome video. I never get tired of watching it! The Nat Geo Ninja Shrimp video used to be on You Tube but it got removed. :cry:

Here is an awesome picture of my Oerstedii. Quintessential Mantis Pose.

 

[ritter6788]

I love that pose!

Here's another video of a mantis in the wild, Hemisquilla californiensis. The largest of the smasher species and possibly my favorite mantis, not suitable for aquariums though.

The commentary is a bit goofy and the background music is cartoonish but still a cool video.

[video=youtube;H69cLQdLPfg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69cLQdLPfg[/video]

 

[bobbyM]

Sweet vid's! I had a small one a friend found in his reef tank and sent to me. Loved the little guy! Had him in a 20 gallon for about 6 months and he jumped out the opening of a hang on filter. I have decided I want to buy another and put in my 45 lagoon tank. I have this one completely sealed with a 10 gallon sump and decent protein skimmer.

Question for you
Do you think he would harm my sea grass? and what are the most likely fish that could be housed with one? Needing a few ideas

Thanks in advance

 

[ritter6788]

I don't think they would do much damage to sea grass but they will move or rearrange anything they don't want in their way.

As far as fish, you never want to add anything to a mantis tank that you aren't afraid to lose. I've kept several fish with my stomatopods and I've only had one damsel get killed. It wasn't doing well anyway and the mantis wasn't killing it for food. It whacked it once and it was done. Obviously avoid fish that could harm a mantis too like puffers and lionfish.