Jumping in!

[Gilraen Took]

I'm going to get a mantis soon. I'm going to buy one from tampa bay saltwater(they sell the wenneraes for $50, but that species will stay small enough for my tank AND is apparantly a great species for tanks, sooo ) I'm going to have him in my sump(10 gal, mainly being built so I can get more rock and get my macro out of the display tank. Not for pod growing only, plus it is a side by side setup) Have a few questions I'm still looking for oppinions on:

1. I'm going to get a large piece of LR and surround it with rubble of varying sizes, should be good, right?

2. What about feeding? I had originally planned on bits of frozen mysis and/or krill, plus small snails and hermit crabs(small ones) Also, when it got bigger occasionally a peppermint shrimp(hey, natural diet, and there's a place in town that sells them for less than feeder guppy prices>.<) I've heard from a couple of people that that is a good feeding plan, a few other people have not said what is wrong with it, but said it is bad. So is this a good idea, or what? They're smashers, if that helps.

3. Going to use a SSB for it. Going to have some snails for that, but be able to replace them as they get munched. Also, was planning on getting a couple of nass. snails to use since I've been told that usually their shells are too thick for the wenneraes to break most of the time.

I feel like I am missing something here, but can't think what. . .

[Ikaria]

I have a TBS mantis that hitchhiked on my rock (originally had 3 but only the strong survive. Right?)

Anyway, I keep him in a 5 gallon tank with PVC for hideouts. He does quite well in there. I feed him misbehaving hermits, and Nassarius obsoleta snails once in a while. His main diet is fresh shrimp from the seafood section of the local grocer. (Just ask for 1 and they usually don't charge) I just slice a bit off, and feed the rest to the main tank.

HTH

[Gilraen Took]

Cool thanks Definately going to give mine a rock burrow though. Just because I'm going to be putting a lot of rock into that tank(well, 15 lbs or so). I will have to remember the shrimp though.

[tims]

gota picture of your guy to come?
since he is a smasher he will like harder shelled things. he may take some fish and soft stuff but might not want it right away.

a lot of time, freshwater feeders are not so good, since they died off really fast,small guppies like that can pollte a tank fast.
good luck with this guy!

[Ms. K]

Shrimp, crabs, and snails will be a good idea. My old G. ternatensis loved scallop from the fish market. You may want to think about frozen foods as well for the main part of the diet...enriched brine shrimp cubes, silversides, large mysis, etc. Just make sure that frozen cube foods are enriched or fortified with vitamins and such.

I just got my new peacock today....HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :O I don't know what kids of foods she likes yet, but the previous owner said that she ate several damsels/chromis per day with snails and crabs as snacks. He also said that she made quick work of a niger trigger and a very large strawberry crab. She won't be getting such gourmet meals from me...lol.