Mantis Shrimp

chunksofpoooo

chunksofpoooo

sloth loves chunk
Sep 16, 2004
346
0
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Los Angeles, California
What's the word on mantis shrimp?

does anyone have one, or does anyone know if they do well in a tank?
I know they cant be kept with anything at all, they seem really cool though
 
http://blueboard.rimlife.com/mantis/

They are cool. I had one that was confined to the overflow of a 55 invert tank for a while. Amazingly hardy, fast, and strong. He had to be removed for cleanings, and it was amazing how hard it could hit the tongs I used to pull him out-and he was still very small! Ended up escaping the overflow and we had to remove him from the system. They do well in fairly small tanks, and are easily fed. Just be careful not to get your fingers too close--serious damage is possible.
 
I have a 5" Peacock Mantis in a 10gal. He has a 2" Domino Damsel as a room mate, and they get along perfect. Even sleep in the same cave and eat together.
 
I heard they can hit with the power of a .22 bullet when fully grown! So watch those hands! Very quick little critters. If you keep them with fish, your fish may disappear.

Appart from all that they look pretty cool. Size/power wise they are the baddest boys on the plannet.
 
Your fish wont dissapear unless you dont feed your Mantis. The smashers (Peacocks) arent fish eaters...but they'll tear the crap out of any invert you put in the tank.

And yes...the can release their smashers at a rate of 2200 feet per second (the same as a .22 caliber bullet).
 
mantis

I got a smasher in my order of lr that I put in my 55.After I captured him I threw in some lr rubble and a little sand on the intake side of my refugium and let him go in there.So far...no problems.He is really cool looking and very active at night.I was surprised at how fast they move.After a few months I threw in a handful of razor caulerpa in there with him and he loves it,you'll se him running all through it.another thing I noticed is that when you look at them you can see a definite intelligence there in those crazy eyes...scary.hope this helps!
 
i read that its alot harder to get a spearer rather than a smasher, true?

and where could i find one (either type)?
 
chunksofpoooo said:
i read that its alot harder to get a spearer rather than a smasher, true?

and where could i find one (either type)?
Click to expand...
Smashers often live in holes they have dug in live rock, so they probably hitchhike a lot more than spearers.

StephenRay is looking for one too, and not having a lot of luck. I got 4 in my last order of gulf live rock, and gave away 2 to people in the local reef club. You might check your local club (scmas ), and see if anyone got some hitchhikers they want to get rid of.
 
I got mine from a LFS. Every once in a great while, you'll see them for sale.

Mine was in a 10gal. tank at the store, for $35. I saw him and fell in love...I'd been wanting one for awhile, but couldnt find any. I went back to the same store 3 weeks later, and they still had him. I asked the store employee a random question about it and he was like..."You know...NO ONE wants this thing. If you want it, I'll give it to you for $20." I brought him home that night and set up a 10gal. for him.

I had the Domino Damsel in my 15gal. reef and hated the thing. My girlfriend loved it. So, I waited till she wasnt home, one night, and got the Damsel out and tossed him in the Mantis tank. I got the video camera out, and everything, waiting for the Mantis to attack! The Damsel swam right over, in the the Mantis's cave, and the next thing I knew, they were both poking their heads out of the same hole. Been best friends every since. My girlfriend came home, asked where her Damsel was...found him, figured out what I'd tried to do, and was pissed. lol I told her if she wanted him out, she had to stick her hands in the Mantis tank to get it. She's scared of the mantis, so the Damsel will stay in that tank. :D
 
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