[CSeaSee]

I'm thinking about setting up a mantis tank. Anyone have any suggestions/ personal experience? I'm thinking 15 gal, LR, sandbed, PC, powerhead, WC weekly. I know they can break glass, so would acrylic be a good choice? I also know there are smashers and slashers, but that's about it.

[inwall75]

I apologize in advance that this post is concentrated on smashers. However, I've never kept spearers so my knowledge is limited to what I've read for them.

I have to tell you. I've done softy tanks, SPS tanks, mixed reefs (not a good idea ), etc., etc., and so on. In the course of doing this, I have observed a lot of interesting critters. However, none have ever been more interesting than my mantis. Not only that, mantis have been the only animals that observe me back. I'm not talking about getting excited about being fed like cats, dogs, and fish...I'm talking about a quite intelligent creature studying me right back.

I have kept many species of mantis. Most hitchhiking species do not require an acrylic tank. However, if you want to keep my favorite species (Peacock Mantis) it will be a VERY good idea once it hits about 5 inches or so. If you have a small nano with very thin glass (like an eclipse) and you desire a medium size mantis as opposed to a small one, it is a very good idea to put a thin piece of plexiglass on the bottom of the tank before putting down a sanbed. Once they get into den building mode and they start banging, they could care less if it is rock they are banging or glass.

There is one thing that ALL smasher species of mantis requires even if it is a small hitchhiker...a titanium heater or a cage around a glass heater (unless your heater is in a sump). I can't tell you how many smasher-mantis have met an untimely death due to electrocution by hitting the ultra-thin glass used in most heaters.

It's real easy for me to advise you on a spearer tank. A VERY deep sandbed. That's about it. Unfortunately, you won't see a spearer very often in captivity and you won't get one as a hitchhiker because they don't live in LR.

For smashers, a good setup truly depends on the species you have and/or want as I alluded to above. I have had good results by creating a den for mantis using PVC tubing (size depending on species) and covering it with LR. You want the tubing to be 1 and 1/2 larger than full grown size of the mantis so they can turn around (and you will be quite surprised on how quickly they can turn around). Do NOT put the other open end of the tubing against one of the glass walls. They get into redecorating mode often (just like my wife) and if there is any type of barrier against extending their den, they may or may not decide to keep banging on it until they get through. Remember, they get stronger as they get bigger. Your specimen may not take to your den at first because you will have placed it in such a way as to maximize view. However, I've found that once you become known as the "bringer of food" and they are more comfortable, they will accept this new den. Regardless, I've found that they will make a secondary den too. Provide shells and small pieces of rubble for them to decorate, and re-decorate, and re-decorate, ad-infinitum.

Why hyper-salinity dips don't work to remove most mantis.

Many mantis live on patch-reefs and when the tide goes out for half of the day, the water pools, evaporation happens, the temperature in the tidepool increases substantially, and the salinity continues to go through the roof until the tide comes back. They are accustomed to this type of abuse.

Where did my mantis go? He's been doing well for months and he/she put a whole bunch of rubble in front of the den and I haven't seen it for days.

It's molting. They have an exoskeleton and eventually their tissue size will outsize it. They have to shed it in a similar manner to shrimp. Leave the molt in for a day or two. They will often eat it for calcium, strontium, and other needs. Then discard it. BTW...the molt on the first day will be an EXACT duplicate of your mantis. Unfortunately, just like in nature, this is the most likely time to lose a mantis.

Should I add Iodine to help my mantis shrimp molt?

Heck no. Mantis shrimp are not shrimp, they are stomatopods. However, this is one area where they are similar. Just like shrimp they have an exoskeleton and adding Iodine MAKES them molt, it doesn't HELP them. If you force them to molt too early, you are severely weakening it.

How do I make my mantis like me?

All living things have an innate instinct for security, food, and procreation. Provide them with a secure den, and from the beginning don't allow any natural foods for a while. You need to provide it. Once they feel secure, you will then become the "bringer of food". It's not a good idea to put more than one mantis in a nano because sexing them is hard to do unless you are holding onto them. In nature, mantis of the same species and sex merely engage in "I'm tougher than you" contests like rams and they both walk away at the end. However, in a small nano tank, there isn't sufficient retreating area. In other words, don't try to breed them unless you are SURE of their sexes. Most species breed with the same partner for life.

I understand that in nature, some critter is always eating another critter to survive. However, I cannot put something in my tank that might be killed.

If so, then a mantis probably isn't a good animal for a species-tank for you. If you have a smasher, once you earn their trust, you will have to start adding a clean-up crew. If mantis don't exercise their clubs, they will lose them in the next molt. With feeding of your mantis, most of your clean-up crew will be left alone. (They are quite intelligent and prefer free food over food that requires work). However, they will slowly one by one disappear over time.

Should I put my hand in the tank?

I'm quite popular in St. Louis when someone has a mantis. That's because I will grab a mantis out of a local reefers tank with my bare hand. They will back up from it like I pulled out a lion or a grizzly bear. Being afraid of a 1 inch G. wennerae as opposed to an 8 in O.s. is like being terrified of kittens because lions have killed humans before. In spite of this, I do NOT recommend putting your hands in the tank.

[CSeaSee]

Wow, that was great! And a wonderful sell on smashers as well! Thank you! Does anyone know if a spearer needs any different habitat needs? Just because glass tanks are cheaper... although if I find a good deal on an acrylic, I'm getting it.
Does anyone from Chicago know a place that sells them or gives them away?

[The R/C Man]

inwall75,

That was some great info! It is nice to know that there is a Mantis Expert around here..

Personally, if I was planning to keep a mantis, I don't think I would go less then 3/8" acrylic and would go for 1/2" just to be safe. A small custom made tank shouldn't be that expensive if you look around. I believe it would be cheaper to spend more for the tank than it would be to call a carpet cleaner after your tank water has made a mess of it.... It's a piece of mind thing...