Mantis shrimp

[JonAtHalfway]

What do I need to know?
I have no marine experience, so if they are difficult, what should I try first?
I have 2-3 20gal tanks coming my way for free and was hoping to try something new with them, is 20 too small?
Does anyone have videos of theirs?
what foods can i breed easily for a mantis shrimp, is an acrylic tank a must have, i read they can crack glass tanks.

 

[mr.reef24]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp

this should start you on your research of the Mantis any other question send me a private message

mr.reef24

 

[squilla]

I'll just leave this here.

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

I have a 15" zebra mantis shrimp at the moment. I've had him for 6 years, and love him to bits. They're extremely hardy animals, very aware and intelligent, and also curious and resourceful. He lives in a gigantic refugium in the sump for my green eel in a foot-deep sandbed. He, like my eel, only eats large live damselfishes. The large species (like mine) can easily live for several decades if kept in optimal conditions. There are hundreds of species to choose from, so please do your homework before buying any mantis shrimp. (or any living thing, for that matter.) Most species stay under 4", and will take meaty seafoods on a stick a couple times a week. You should probably get a book on starting a basic marine setup so you understand the importance of live rock, live sand, protein skimming, nitrogen cycles, and salinty. It's definitely a step up from the freshwater world, but with practice, it is also fairly easy after a while. You should also look in to getting small chillers for those little 20-gallons, since anything over 82 degrees fareinheit can be lethal to most mantis species. (high temperature= very low oxygen levels!) Check Craigslist when you're looking for aquarium equipment, as it can save you hundreds of dollars! Just be careful in Craigslist and look out for shady deals on super-cheap aquarium equipment.

 

[Venom SS]

I just got a peacock mantis a few weeks back. VERY hardy. I keep him in a 24g nano. 2 bags of live sand, about 20lbs of cured live rock, and 1 week later put him in. No problems at all. He eats raw market shrimp (shell on), silversides, and 2"-3" live crawfish. It eats ALL of the crawfish, not a single bit left behind, shell and all.