10gallon Stocking

[micstarz]

I'm still cyling my 10 gallon, and I haven't decorated past substrate yet...please help me find something suitable! I don't really mind having half a dozen damsels and blennies but I want something single specimen that has character. I've been toying with the idea of a mantis shrimp and alot of people have told me this might work if I do things right. Are there any other interesting fish I should look into? I really don't mind a small interesting community of fish either, but am more into a single specimen animal. I am also aware that a ten gallon will mean lots of stocking dissapointments.

Special thanks to unannon, who spent a lot of time to help me get started. I appreciate everyone that posted on my other thread too!

 

[micstarz]

bump

 

[Mantis411]

for an single interesting animal in your tank i would have to agree with getting a mantis shrimp... you could try keeping a pistol shrimp with a goby in tank that size, or heliquin shrimp, but they only eat starfish

 

[BIGgourami]

you're not going to be able to get half a dozen of anything.. excpet maybe snails or hermits

im mine i have a red head dottyback (my new favorite fish) and my old old old blue damsel.. and that's ideally overstocked..

dottybacks
solo damsels
smaller (trimma, cleaner, clown etc) and watchman gobies
royal gramma
jawfish
blennies

or some interesting inverts.. you're already into mantis shrimp, there's a few good cleaner shrimp, boxer crabs, sexy shrimp, CBS etc etc etc

 

[micstarz]

for an single interesting animal in your tank i would have to agree with getting a mantis shrimp... you could try keeping a pistol shrimp with a goby in tank that size, or heliquin shrimp, but they only eat starfish

Harlequin shrimp seem interesting...but they are hard to find...how often would I have to feed them starfish? Are there any alternative foods? A starfish here costs $10 HKD (Or $1.25 USD) So it's not too bad. What if I had a dozen or more starfish in another tank and fed the shrimp an arm a day and let the arms regenerate?

you're not going to be able to get half a dozen of anything.. excpet maybe snails or hermits

im mine i have a red head dottyback (my new favorite fish) and my old old old blue damsel.. and that's ideally overstocked..

dottybacks
solo damsels
smaller (trimma, cleaner, clown etc) and watchman gobies
royal gramma
jawfish
blennies

or some interesting inverts.. you're already into mantis shrimp, there's a few good cleaner shrimp, boxer crabs, sexy shrimp, CBS etc etc etc

Eh I think I'll stick with a mantis...or a harlequin shrimp. What's a CBS?

I saw a 2in Cubicus Boxfish...how big do they get?

 

[micstarz]

Candidates:
Peacock Mantis Neogonodactylus wennerae
Color: Rainbow
Size: 6"


False Mantis Pseudosquilla ciliata
Color: Yellow
Size:4"


Thumbsplitter Mantis Odontodactylus scyllarus
Color: Black
Size:3"


Green Mantis Gonodactylellus viridis
Color: Green
Size:2"


Harlequin Shrimp Hymenocera elegans
Color: Screwed up
Size: 2"

Help me choose!

I also read that inverts are more sensitive to water quality issues. However, I also read that mantis shrimp are quite hardy. I'm confused here...

 

[skene]

Time to do some research.
1. Go to local SW fish store.
2. Befriend employee that actually knows something about saltwater fish.
3. Ask questions about current livestock that they have.
4. Tell them your intentions and tank size.
5. Ask for recommendations based on tank.
6. Take the information you received and start looking for extra information on google.
7. Go to next local SW fish store.
8. Refer to numbers 1-5.
9. Refer to number 6.
10. Take information and do more research.

 

[micstarz]

The only thing I haven't done is #2....they said they get False Mantis and Peacock Mantis occasionally...and they said if they find a mantis in their LR they'll hold it for me...and I can't check the places too regularly because it would take 2 hours and I have to keep up with school.

 

[micstarz]

10. Take information and do more research.

I've been reading and from what I gather all the candidates can live for life in a 10G except maybe the Peacock Mantis...which might be uncomfortable...information on stomatopods is rather limited...that's why I'm asking...

 

[micstarz]

I mixed up the scientific names of the Thumbsplitter and the Peacock Mantis...