My 12" cube - Mantis Shrimp

A 7.5 gallon tank I built for my mantis shrimp, "Ike".

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• mantis
• shrimp
• stomatopod
• nano
• reef
• aquarium
• ninja

[wyattthealchemist]

Is this particular mantis shrimp still alive? Most mantis shrimp live 3-4 years in captivity (from what I can tell from research), this video was posted in 2007 and that mantis looked to be reasonably large for not being a zebra or peacock/harlequin. Also, was that Gonadactylus Chigara?

[N1njaFish]

@wyattthealchemist

No, Ike is a gonodactylus smithii, which I feel is the best species of mantis shrimp for a nano tank (but I'm biased). I sold Ike to a fellow reefer and after I had built a new 30gal display tank, I tried to buy him back but was informed that Ike had died : (

[wyattthealchemist]

@N1njaFish

Aww jeez.... sorry he died. How long did you have him before you sold him? I am trying to discern the life-span of different mantis shrimp types. Currently I'm making a tank for a mantis (14 gal) and am wondering what type to get. I was thinking of the Peacock/Harlequin or Zebra but ill certainly look up smithii on your recommendation. By the way, what lighting did you use? I've heard T8 is appropriate for peacocks but uncertain for others. Thanks for responding.

[N1njaFish]

@wyattthealchemist

I have him for at least 2 years prior to selling him and it was about 6 months later that I tried to get him back. Peacocks are beautiful and I would love to have one but I have been a little leery of shell disease. I kept Ike under a 70w halide in the 20K range. The 30gal that I set up was with T8's and I am very impressed with that lighting - especially compared to power compacts.

Cheers,

Chad

[TheKimzon]

did u biuld tank itself or was it a kit or store bought?

[N1njaFish]

I had the tank custom built by a local glass shop to my specs. The other mods I did myself according to my own design.

Chad

[TheBrandonLand]

@N1njaFish what type is ike s speices not the sienctific name the name given or known by pet stores and would a 5gallon tank be big enought for the same spices as ike was

[muffemod]

@SCOBYsnacks There is this misconception about the word "waste" in the English language. It would be a "waste" of money if he neatly stacked the money he earned in a vault to collect dust; never to be spent. Money that isn't used is a "waste".

[rockinbewbs]

@wyattthealchemist leathers and zooanthids, mantis' aren't exactly the neatest eaters, so the tank needs alot of upkeep for an anemone to survive. BTW if you buy a clown hosted to the anemone the mantis shouldn't be able to get it unless you dont feed it.

[wyattthealchemist]

Hey Ninjafish, it's me again. I was wondering what shrooms and anemone's you kept in your mantis tank. I'm trying to find a balance between the lighting mantis shrimps prefer and other things that prefer brightly lit tanks. You appear to have quite a few of those "feathery" things like the shrooms. I doubt youll want to list them all but if you remember any in particular I'd like to hear what they were.

[wyattthealchemist]

@N1njaFish

Aah... thank you very much! I'm rather new to the aquarist hobby so any information is greatly appreciated, this is very helpful. 

[wyattthealchemist]

Is that Gonadactylus Chigara? The color matched but that particular species is the least popular when choosing a mantis shrimp for tanks. Was just wondering which type you had. It appeared to be a "smasher" type as well which I know Gonadactylus to be.