mantis shrimp in a 5 gal
- Thread starter green_fox
- Start date
There are over 400 species of mantis shrimp and many reach a foot in length. Most can easily break the thin glass of a 5 gal tank. If you're 5 gal has 1/2" glass, you should be OK. Check out reefcentral.com. They have a mantis shrimp forum where you can find out probably everything you need on maintenance and species acquisition of any small species that can be housed in a 5gal.
most common green mantis.....Gonodactylellus viridis....... but would be better in a 15 gallon acrylic no mantis will last long in a 5 plus it will be a constant pain to keep the water params perfect in a 5... especially when you feed it the ammonia from a silversude or another dead feeder will taint your water fast... The only stomatopod I ever kept I had in a 40 acrylic and I lost him for no apparent reason maybe old age I dont know he was fully grown when I got him....
I have a small 3 inch mantis im not sure of the species in what im guessing is about a 30-40 litre tank and he is perfectly happy in there as are the correlimorphs that have spread throughout the tank so no water quality issues, not sure how many gallons that is but that is the minimum size for any mantis species. And while when he hits the glass it is def loud and can be heard all though my house i still highly doubt he could break it.
he can and will break the glass when he is fullgrown I have owned and done tons of research on stomatopods so I am not just making things up...... I guess if you dont think my advice is sound dont listen to it and have water on your floor along with your mantis shrimp.......
rottbo;667144; said:
HAHAHA ok then. Are you psychic or something??? How do you know what species it is???? Im fairly sure he is full grown. Alot of mantis species only get 2 or 3 inches brainiac.
And if despite all your research you cant keep one alive in a 40 you may not be the best person to give advise.
Actually I got it from a store that had it in a display tank for years so I dont know how old it was for sure.. I had it for a year and a half before he perished.... I wasnt talking down to you although you find it neccesary to do so to me I see.... I still feel that even a 3" mantis can and will break glass and should have a larger home then a 5 gallon... You really shouldnt start talking crap on here either if you like the site once you offend to many people you will no longer be allowed on the site.. I am sorry again if you think that my info is bad... but to all their own I guess....
yes sorry i did take it abit far. I kinda agree 5g is to small. Like my original post said mine is in a 30-40 litre tank which i think is about 10g and that is the minimum size i would recommend for a small species.
thanks for the apology and seriously be careful with him in a glass tank.... especially watch your fingers around him even at that size they can cause some major damage they are not nicknamed "thumbsplitters" for no reason....
What is this lately, a mantis craze, lol. And I agree - Glass is a disaster waiting to happen (depending on the species). Acrylic is way better. And do be carefull, this may sound funny, but I learned the hard way the true meaning of "thumb-splitter". From then on out, it's shark mesh gloves for me, no joke.