Mantis Choice

[Alittlefishy]

I have an AP24 and am considering using it for a mantis tank...
I have a 96W Quad PC fixture for lighting, and several powerheads I can choose from for movement. What type of filtration would you use?
Would g_ternatensis or n_wennerae be suitable? Or perhaps another choice. I have a small pistol shrimp in my 55, but never see him, so I would like to actually see the mantis that I would get. I'm open to all suggestions.

[jenglish]

mantis tend to keep in their caves as well. I had one for a year (a hitch hiker) before I actually saw him. I have known others who had mantis that would come out an attack fingers near their cave. I think that it kind of depends on their individual personality.

[Alittlefishy]

It's ok if it's not really active, but I would like to see it at feeding time at least. I really want a smasher and wonder if a Peacock would be too big for my AP24. Maybe a P. Ciliata would be a good choice???

[Archon]

zombo.....

[Alittlefishy]

I was hoping Zombo would see this and chime in

[Koshmar]

If you want a mantis that is reclusive and that will show up at feedings only, I would say G. chiragra. Mine does'nt come out much, except when no one is around. It will come if you wiggle a little silverside infront of it's burrow. Other than that you will not see a chiragra much. An N. wennerae is very interactive from what I have heard and will come out frequently. This is the second mantis that I will be keeping within a few days so I will post on its interactivity when it arrives. Those two are smashers but the P. Ciliata is a spearer, not a smasher. P. Ciliata I am told act like smashers in that they are relatively active and hunt out of their burrow. All require a sand bed of at least two inches. The P. Ciliata I believe requires a three inch sb. The G. chiragra has also been reported by some to become aggressive at times. If you house a mantis with your pistol shrimp, it will probably be killed within a few days. These situations do depend somewhat on personalities. My G. chiragra had no problems with a small emerald crab it was housed with in a twenty gallon tank. When the emerald molted however, my chiragra seemed to know it was weak so it smashed the emerald's claws and one leg. The emerald later died. IMO you should consult species profiles throughly before making your decision. Try mantisshrimps.co.uk for some good info.
How many gallons is this tank? Is it the 55 gallon? What's the footprint like?

[Alittlefishy]

I'm actually going to wait on the mantis, but when I do, it will go in an AP24 which is about 20x18x17 with a bow front. I have a 96W quad fixture and will use a hob filter with carbon and phos media. The p. ciliata seems like a good choice for the size of tank, and the personality that I'm looking for.

[Zombo]

Sorry I haven't been about -- work has been extremely busy, and I also will be starting a new job in two weeks Koshmar is quite correct with his assessment of the mantis shrimp species -- I have a G. chiragra that only comes out for krill, extremely shy and reclusive. My G. glabrous, on the other hand, is very active, and interested in what I'm doing. She is constantly checking me out and knows when it's feeding time

[wolfe4372]

Originally Posted by Zombo

Sorry I haven't been about -- work has been extremely busy, and I also will be starting a new job in two weeks Koshmar is quite correct with his assessment of the mantis shrimp species -- I have a G. chiragra that only comes out for krill, extremely shy and reclusive. My G. glabrous, on the other hand, is very active, and interested in what I'm doing. She is constantly checking me out and knows when it's feeding time

is this ms. bella you speak of?