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

[Reeftanker3295]

I am thinking of buying either a Gonodactylus smithii or a Pseudosquilla ciliata. I have a 10 gallon tank and i am wondering how i should set it up. Im thinking a 3 inch sand bed, a conch shell, a bit of LR and a piece of PVC for its burrow. I am wondering what kind of filter would be best for this setup and what other things i would need. ( i have a cover and lights can be screwed in but need to know what sort of lighting to get )

[Loverotties]

No filter neede if a reef just a powerhead or two.T5 lights would be good or T5HOs.

[quader94]

they dont need special lighting.
they dont like intense lighting
a classic flouresent bulb that comes with tanks can be used even.

[quader94]

if yor using pvc dont just use a straight pvc pipe. you know how people make rock lifts? do something similar to that just not as complex and have a few holes so he can enter and leave them but point them at the front of the tank because hell end up getting a favortie one and you dont want him facing the wrong way lol

[Reeftanker3295]

Sounds good. So if i get something like a koralia nano where should i place it on the tank? aimed towards the bottom so it doesnt allow algae or just straight so that it makes a current around the whole tank? Also, do i just do water changes every 1-2 weeks just like i do for my fish? Wont not having any sort of water dirty the tank? and whats the best available food for this stomatopod? For the PVC structure should i make the whole structure open or make a bunch of seperate rooms? Will these animals come out of their little burrows alot?

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Sounds good. So if i get something like a koralia nano where should i place it on the tank? aimed towards the bottom so it doesnt allow algae or just straight so that it makes a current around the whole tank? Also, do i just do water changes every 1-2 weeks just like i do for my fish? Wont not having any sort of water dirty the tank? and whats the best available food for this stomatopod?

well the mantis will keep the sand bed somewhat clean because hell be digging and making little caves all the time and will turn the sand up alot but it wont be spotless.

yeah you can do water changes here and there to keep the water parameters stable. and youll need to top the tank off daily because the evaporation will make the salinity raise through out the day.

best food , well are you getting a smasher or spearer?
and are you now buying one or keeping the hitchiker?

[Reeftanker3295]

i think im going to keep the hitchiker if i can but this would be a good way to learn because my hitchhiker is deffinetely a smasher seeind the amount of snails missing in my tank. would snails that i collect from tidal rivers be an ok meal for my mantis?

[Reeftanker3295]

Ok im going to ask this now before i set up my tank and get algae again, should i use live sand or just beach sand? i heard the live sand can have phosphates in it when bought and i dont want any more algae! haha

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Ok im going to ask this now before i set up my tank and get algae again, should i use live sand or just beach sand? i heard the live sand can have phosphates in it when bought and i dont want any more algae! haha

live sand is a waste of money.

beach sand is dirty.

ide buy a bag of play sand or argonite sand

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

i think im going to keep the hitchiker if i can but this would be a good way to learn because my hitchhiker is deffinetely a smasher seeind the amount of snails missing in my tank. would snails that i collect from tidal rivers be an ok meal for my mantis?

any snails would be a good meal for him

and yes if theres missing snails then ide assume hes a smasher.
a spearer would of stabbed fish over trying to beat snails

[Reeftanker3295]

haha ok that clears it up. my only confusion now is if he is a smasher then why did he kill 3 of my fish? and if hes a spearer whys he eating my stinking snails!? haha no time to catch him today, long day of driving I think im probably going to get a purple spot because my dad doesnt even want to take the tank apart and he says if we find a mantis shrimp he wants to kill it because it costed him alot of money... haha but ill save it! we'll see if he'll let me tear my tank apart tomorrow . By play sand do you just mean like sandbox sand? I also heard of using black sand for these guys do you think this would do anything?

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

haha ok that clears it up. my only confusion now is if he is a smasher then why did he kill 3 of my fish? and if hes a spearer whys he eating my stinking snails!? haha no time to catch him today, long day of driving I think im probably going to get a purple spot because my dad doesnt even want to take the tank apart and he says if we find a mantis shrimp he wants to kill it because it costed him alot of money... haha but ill save it! we'll see if he'll let me tear my tank apart tomorrow . By play sand do you just mean like sandbox sand? I also heard of using black sand for these guys do you think this would do anything?

well a smasher would do both so im going to assume its one.
in the next few days set up the tank so if you do catch it or buy one the tank is already cycling
play sand yeah just cheap sand. black sand i havent read anything about black sand being benificial its just more of an appearance if anything im guessing

[Reeftanker3295]

My dad saw the mantis as i was out today so now he atleast believes me that its in there.. he took out the rock and put it in water but i dont think he went quick enough. The mantis is alot smaller than i expected, probably around 1 1/2" and again, white. I bought some PVC pipe today so now i just need to stick some LR and some sand in the tank and fill the tank up!

[quader94]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

My dad saw the mantis as i was out today so now he atleast believes me that its in there.. he took out the rock and put it in water but i dont think he went quick enough. The mantis is alot smaller than i expected, probably around 1 1/2" and again, white. I bought some PVC pipe today so now i just need to stick some LR and some sand in the tank and fill the tank up!

what size pvc did you buy?

[Reeftanker3295]

i bought 2 inch pvp pipe with lots of little turns and 3 different entrances, should be good enough right?