Stomatopods [Archive] - Coralforum.com Reef Community

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paulsreef

11-21-2003, 12:17 PM

Are any of you freaks like me and actually like Mantis Shrimp? I'm not saying have one in the show tank and feed it Clowns and Tangs, I'm saying collect them and keep them in their own tanks? I've currently got one that someone collected by accident in the keys (she lives in my sump). You can see details on my site under Mantis Madness! (http://http://www.paulsreef.com/). I got an email from someone locally about a Peacock Mantis, and I'm going to go pick that one up over the weekend. I've got a spare 10 gallon that I can setup here in my fish room that will do nicely. So does anyone else share my strange like of these killing machines? If you've got one or know of one that needs a home, let me know!

Zack

11-21-2003, 04:33 PM

Hey
I use keys rock and am very close with a company that collects aquaclutred rock. He has mantis from the keys and gulf in his main tanks cause he finds them muche less aggressive then the others from the fiji or such. I have one alouth i never seen it for sure but hear it ALL the time in my tank, never seems to hurt anything.

I think mantis just need to be well fed and for that they will not kill everything! I hope you the best with your mantis!
Zack

paulsreef

11-21-2003, 04:41 PM

That's right, I didn't think to ask you about that company as a source of Mantis. Would you mind asking if they have any Lysiosquilla, Rissoides or Hemisquilla species... anything besides the standard Keys green ones? I'm aiming for some of the more exotic species.

I would tend to agree with your statement, but I would just point out that Stomatopods are definitely opportunistic feeders so at some point if they can smack or spear (depending on the species) something that looks yummy, they will. :oops:

11-23-2003, 08:45 PM

Couldn't A Mantis Shrimp Byte Your Finger Off. What Can You Keep Those In. At An Aquairiam In Riverhead Called Atlantis They Have A Mantis In Like A 5 Gallon Bubble Tank Probably Smaller.

paulsreef

11-23-2003, 10:23 PM

A large one could easily sever a finger (depending on how thick your fingers are I guess) ;-) What you can keep with them depends on the species. There are two types of mantis species... smashers and spearers. Smashers tend to specialize in eating things in shells and spearers are fishers. Like I said, they're opportunistic and highly aggressive, so if you aren't feeding it regularly and then stick your hand in front of it burrow, you're likely to be mistaken for something tastey. I wouldn't worry about keeping anything with a Mantis, they don't get lonley :badgrin: You can safely keep corals with them and that makes for an interesting tank.

Zack

11-23-2003, 10:34 PM

I even have one with my clams :) all seems to do well, i never really see it, but i hear it ALL the time!!

11-24-2003, 04:43 PM