Mantis help

Nitros · 03-28-2007, 08:03 PM

Hi, I am new and need some help. My father owns many fish tanks both saltwater and fresh (our basement walls lined with tanks). And one day we had gotten a mantis shrimp, in one of the tanks (can't remember which) the mantis had gotten stuck in a rock. He had torn the whole tank apart to retrieve and extricate it, when it was released he took it to his friends and gave it to his son as a gift. I had asked him if I could keep it and he had said no because they were pests and destroy tanks.

I decided to ge behind his back and try and get one myself. Have been looking around and no luck, I need to know exactly what I need to keep and maintain a spear, not a clubber or smasher whichever name you prefer. Are acryllic tanks needed for spears? I know their foods, and all that. I need to know what I need to keep a spear tank,rocks, etc.

Much appreciation =D

Edit: If I were to get a smasher, i would need an acryllic tank. But what else would I need?

Edit #2: I also need to know where I can get an acryllic tank (none in the local fish stores where I live, and no help from my dad)

I have both a smasher and a spearer ready to buy, for the smasher it is a gonodactylaceus graphurus that my friends father has at his fishery. I have found a spearer online, it is a zebra mantis shrimp -unaware of scientific name zebra mantis shrimp is all i have-

More updates coming soon, when I get either one pics will be coming. I plan to be a part of this forum.

mantisfreak · 03-28-2007, 08:08 PM

Welcome to The Reef Tank!!!

Spearers require a VDSB. (That's a Very Deep Sand Bed). Think 6 inches as a minimum. Not only that, make sure it's not all very small oolithic sand. Have a mixture of sizes.

You'll also need to keep providing it with fish for food needs.

Nitros · 03-28-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantisfreak

Welcome to The Reef Tank!!!

Spearers require a VDSB. (That's a Very Deep Sand Bed). Think 6 inches as a minimum. Not only that, make sure it's not all very small oolithic sand. Have a mixture of sizes.

You'll also need to keep providing it with fish for food needs.

Thanks, and I read somewhere that you can put pvc pipes in the sand to "pre-set" the holes for it. Can you do that or no.

mantisfreak · 03-28-2007, 09:48 PM

Yes...but there's no guarantee they'll use it.

Here's a setup for a pistol shrimp. Thus far, they are using it but there's no guarantee that this will continue.

tims · 03-30-2007, 02:00 PM

hmmmm interesting.
i hope he uses it.
I take it that all the pipes are open so he has tunnels to travel?

Ms. K · 04-15-2007, 07:45 PM

You won't necessarily need an acrylic tank for a smasher. There are only a couple of species that get large/strong enough to break glass. The includes peacocks (O. scyllarus), G. chiragra, and the largest of G. ternatensis. I kept my ternatensis in a glass tank with no problems at all. Most mantis will be fine in a glass tank.

Ms. K · 04-15-2007, 07:47 PM

And for what it's worth, the mantis usually identified as a zebra mantis gets HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't break glass, but you would need a sand bed that is exceedingly deep and a VERY large tank.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthrop...ame=l_maculata

JY13131 · 04-15-2007, 08:01 PM

How old are you and how is your dad NOT going to know?