Tank setup for a Gonodactylus smithii (Purple Spot Mantis Shrimp)

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Yea but like if i have it tilted will a small one have any trouble walking in it because of the tilted angle? and wouldnt this make it harder for him to get out?

nope he can swim right on in and out

[Reeftanker3295]

ok so what angle should i point the center tube(entrance) at? like a 45 degree angle or even lower or higher? (going by if in the picture its at a 90 degree angle)

[quader94]

probably 45ish

[Reeftanker3295]

ok so im going to add 1-2 pieces of LR that have already cycled into the tank and get probably around 5 pounds of smalls pieces of LR and have enough sand to cover most of the PVC (probably around 3 inches), my HOB filter, my stomatopod of course haha, and that should be it right? Any techniques to getting them to come out and accept food or anything?

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

ok so im going to add 1-2 pieces of LR that have already cycled into the tank and get probably around 5 pounds of smalls pieces of LR and have enough sand to cover most of the PVC (probably around 3 inches), my HOB filter, my stomatopod of course haha, and that should be it right? Any techniques to getting them to come out and accept food or anything?

secure lid? lights? heater? auto top off because the tanks so small, unless you can manuelly top it off.

well some mantis' come out more then others thats why i recommend the wennerae or p.cilita because there very active

some get to know the owner and when you walk up to the glass they come ouf of there hole and cruise the tank

[Reeftanker3295]

The setup will be IN my bedroom so i hope he'll know im his feeder he'll see me all the time haha. I am going to get a flourescent bulb and have a lid that came with the tank that has a space in the back to hook on the HOB filter. My room is going to keep the tank anywhere from 72-76 degrees (My room is always hot due to computer and strong lighting from my other tanks (turtle, eel, etc.)) so i dont know if ill need heater but we'll see.

[Reeftanker3295]

and also i'll pretty much be near the tank all the time so manual topoff wont be a biggy. Should i be using poland spring water for evaporated water or could it cause algae and other growths?

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

The setup will be IN my bedroom so i hope he'll know im his feeder he'll see me all the time haha. I am going to get a flourescent bulb and have a lid that came with the tank that has a space in the back to hook on the HOB filter. My room is going to keep the tank anywhere from 72-76 degrees (My room is always hot due to computer and strong lighting from my other tanks (turtle, eel, etc.)) so i dont know if ill need heater but we'll see.

a heaters a must

and what kind of eel? i saw the picture of your turtle, neat little guy

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

and also i'll pretty much be near the tank all the time so manual topoff wont be a biggy. Should i be using poland spring water for evaporated water or could it cause algae and other growths?

just buy some distilled water at a supermarket

[Reeftanker3295]

hehe ive caught most of my pets surprisingly. I caught that turtle in the picture the day it was born, got it right when it rose out of the soil (the mom lays eggs in my mulch every year) and have had it for 2 years. Right next to that tank i have a 3 gallon tank with a 3 1/2 inch american eel i caught almost exactly a year ago. I also have a painted turtle i caught but am releasing it soon because its in the tank i am going to be using for the mantis and me and my brother would much rather have a snapping turtle then a painted turtle. Its crazy yet can be pretty stupid at times haha it kind of just stares at you and when u walk in the room it tries to bite the tank and he hits the glass pretty hard which can scare the living daylights out of you

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

hehe ive caught most of my pets surprisingly. I caught that turtle in the picture the day it was born, got it right when it rose out of the soil (the mom lays eggs in my mulch every year) and have had it for 2 years. Right next to that tank i have a 3 gallon tank with a 3 1/2 inch american eel i caught almost exactly a year ago. I also have a painted turtle i caught but am releasing it soon because its in the tank i am going to be using for the mantis and me and my brother would much rather have a snapping turtle then a painted turtle. Its crazy yet can be pretty stupid at times haha it kind of just stares at you and when u walk in the room it tries to bite the tank and he hits the glass pretty hard which can scare the living daylights out of you

that would be cool to see little turtles every year. isnt a 3 gallon a little small for the eel lol. all turtles are cool i wanted one for a while but i never got around to it. lol my lizard does the same thing he pounces on the glass everyday when hes hungry so i know when to feed him

[Reeftanker3295]

I thought id need to upgrade the eel but he seems so happy in the tank! it has a good lid cuz he tends to jump and he swims frantically around the tank all day, i dont know how he has that much energy. The turtle just stares at him all day. When my turtle hits the glass its loud enough to wake me up and im a pretty heavy sleeper :/ its really loud. The eel is like as thin as a piece of spaghetti haha hes really cool

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

I thought id need to upgrade the eel but he seems so happy in the tank! it has a good lid cuz he tends to jump and he swims frantically around the tank all day, i dont know how he has that much energy. The turtle just stares at him all day. When my turtle hits the glass its loud enough to wake me up and im a pretty heavy sleeper :/ its really loud. The eel is like as thin as a piece of spaghetti haha hes really cool

the turtles going to crack the tank one day you should be careful.

once you got the mantis tank cycling you could get the eel a bigger tank while you wait

[Reeftanker3295]

Yea now that the 20 gallon with the turtle will be transferred to my brothers room, ill have room for the mantis shrimps 10 gallon and a nicee 10 gallon for my eel. The whole 10g setup is on sale at my fish store for 15 bucks hahaha (HOB filter, gravel, etc) so ill probably pick one of those up when i go for the mantis' heater. Also the snappers get alot less aggressive as they get older so he will eventually just eat his baitfish and not snap at me. I play with him sometimes, i take a piece of rawhide string and get him to bite it and play tug of war. I can lift him all the way out of the tank with it and he still wont let go

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Yea now that the 20 gallon with the turtle will be transferred to my brothers room, ill have room for the mantis shrimps 10 gallon and a nicee 10 gallon for my eel. The whole 10g setup is on sale at my fish store for 15 bucks hahaha (HOB filter, gravel, etc) so ill probably pick one of those up when i go for the mantis' heater. Also the snappers get alot less aggressive as they get older so he will eventually just eat his baitfish and not snap at me. I play with him sometimes, i take a piece of rawhide string and get him to bite it and play tug of war. I can lift him all the way out of the tank with it and he still wont let go

dont forget to get a like korarilia nano or something for circulation
yeah those setups are dirtcheap i had one for freshwater for a while.
i wanted to put a baby snapper in this one 80 galon i have and set up a complete terrarium being half water half land and make it all natural but then i never get around to the things i plan lol

ide love to play tug of war with a turtle ide think that be funny till he took a quick tuf at it and my hand flew towards his mouth and there goes my finger lol