surgicalsense Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 plus he killed a pit bull and a cage fighter on Saturday Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 That doesn't happen, especially with one of this size. Mysids are good as well. If you want to feed mostly frozen I'd suggest getting something like selecon to help provide some extra nutrients. Hermit crabs and snails are cheap enough to keep him happy though. Buy a crab every once in a while for some extra fun. Awesome info! i have been looking into the selecon and will be ordering some very soon. What do you think about hermits from the beach? I live on the beach in Florida and can just walk down and find them all the time. I dont want to try it if you guys think they might bring on some pests and stuff. I was also reading that hermits can harm a mantis during the molting process... what are your thoughts on that? and how long did it take your N W's to molt when they molted... i guess it takes them a long time from what i have seen on dif forums Thanks TUO Lol...Nice. Are you breeding the snails or just stocking x amount at a time? Just buying them as i go Awe...isn't he cute (and deadly)!!!!!! The tank looks more than awesome!!!! I love it!!!! Thanks Gena hopefully he doesnt break the glass! Hey! That little pico is looking good! Mr. Mantis is looking cool! Thanks Spiro =) Looking great! I think I'm happy with my tail-spot though... I already get freaked out when my emerald crab starts waving his claws at me... I'd be terrified of Thor! LOL... my emerald has got me before "didnt see him on the rock" and i jumped like a little girl. Link to comment
TheUnfocusedOne Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Awesome info! i have been looking into the selecon and will be ordering some very soon. What do you think about hermits from the beach? I live on the beach in Florida and can just walk down and find them all the time. I dont want to try it if you guys think they might bring on some pests and stuff. I was also reading that hermits can harm a mantis during the molting process... what are your thoughts on that? and how long did it take your N W's to molt when they molted... i guess it takes them a long time from what i have seen on dif forums Thanks TUO You'll notice some behavioral differences when they're about to molt. The easiest way to tell is if they lose most of their striking power and don't seem to hunt. Personalities differ IMO, I used to have one that would take macro algae into his hole before his molt, and others that would just stop leaving their den. The big thing is, once they've plugged up their burrow (like the way they do at night), leave them alone. At that point, there's nothing you can really do for them anyway and stressing them during or right after they molt could kill them. I almost did it myself once, since I didn't see him for ~10 days and I thought for sure he wad dead. He had just molted, and wasn't very appreciative of my visit. Molts vary, I've seen them as quick as 2 days and as long as 10. Don't worry about hermits eating your mantis, it will shelter itself away during a molt so nothing can get to it. If you want to make sure, only put in hermits that are a fraction of it's size. Hermits from the beach would probably be fine, just don't get caught taken em! I've heard FL can be a ##### about collecting. I used to feed mine Asian shore crabs, which are an invasive species all along the east coast. All my mantis shrimps Loved them. I'm not sure if their as far down as FL though. ASC have a tendency to run out of your tank once. I had one get out, run out of my room, down a flight of stairs, down a hallway, through my kitchen to the back screen door and then half way up the door. Valiant effort, but he still got nommed in the end . Link to comment
21093r53 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 That doesn't happen, especially with one of this size. Mysids are good as well. If you want to feed mostly frozen I'd suggest getting something like selecon to help provide some extra nutrients. Hermit crabs and snails are cheap enough to keep him happy though. Buy a crab every once in a while for some extra fun. it does happen, and maybe not one of his size but ive had to clean up a 30 long that mysterious got cracked over night :/ plus the eco pic isn't exactly the thickest glass with the best silicone jobs, but im sure you know that Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks Unfocused! You rock! That story about the crab is hilarious! plus the eco pic isn't exactly the thickest glass with the best silicone jobs, but im sure you know that Have you heard stories about the ecopicos leaking? they seem put together pretty well... but sounds like i need to find out a little more about some possible issues with them Link to comment
TheUnfocusedOne Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 it does happen, and maybe not one of his size but ive had to clean up a 30 long that mysterious got cracked over night :/ plus the eco pic isn't exactly the thickest glass with the best silicone jobs, but im sure you know that How do you know it was a mantis? Only one or two species commonly seen in tanks are powerful enough to break glass, so says Dr. Caldwell. You'd be a fool to question him about mantis shrimps. NP EZ Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 I have been reading all i can about the mantis shrimps vision...its amazing that they can see polarized light and change their body's colors to communicate with other mantis shrimps in secret! here is some of the info i found. In a world completely invisible to us, the mantis shrimp can see wavelengths in the ultraviolet and infrared spectrum and well as two forms of polarised light. they have stereo vision with just one eye; each eye is up on a stalk, with a wide range of motion; stomatopods have up to 16 visual pigments (in contrast, we humans have three—red, blue, and yellow); stomatopods can also see ultra-violet and infra-red light, and some can even see polarized light. For many ocean animals, sensing polarization may be even more important than sensing color. One possible use for polarization in the ocean (and elsewhere) is signaling: communicating with neighbors, rivals, and potential partners. Recent discoveries have shown that stomatopods, a sort of shrimp found on reefs around the world, use special body areas to communicate with polarized light. Only with polarizing filters can human eyes see these special areas. Equipped with polarizing filters, cameras have photographed mantis shrimps and revealed areas of the body that are thought to be used for "secret communication." They are visible only to animals that can see polarized light, and stomatopods are among the best in the animal kingdom. Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 This is a GREAT VIDEO! Link to comment
surgicalsense Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 That is pretty awesome. Link to comment
Spirofucci Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Wow, that is a great vid! I have seen a few vids on these guys. Have checked out Reef Central? I think they have a whole section on them. Link to comment
21093r53 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 How do you know it was a mantis? Only one or two species commonly seen in tanks are powerful enough to break glass, so says Dr. Caldwell. You'd be a fool to question him about mantis shrimps. NP EZ youre right it probably was a ghost Link to comment
ccapasso Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Hey Ez, How are you working in the tank with him in there now? Like, how are you putting in your coral frags? Has he come up to get you yet? Link to comment
metrokat Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 He's cool I like his name. We named our Grendel. This is a pic of him. So far since last Tuesday i have given him a very little piece of raw shrimp 3 times and he has killed all 3 dwarf ceriths. I plan on the shrimp every 2 to 3 days and to keep some snails at all times just in case he wants a snack... plus he killed a pit bull and a cage fighter on Saturday He's low maintenance then. All you need is an order from reef cleaners for ceriths and shrimpee is set for life. Link to comment
chippwalters Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Great tank...fascinating thread...taggin along for the ride! Link to comment
ccapasso Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Any idea what the smallest tank would be you could keep a mantis in ? Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Any idea what the smallest tank would be you could keep a mantis in ? I have seen people keep them in 3 gallon tanks... but i would say 5 gallon minimum.. and that would only work for a few smaller species of mantis like these http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/cr...name=n_wennerae http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/cr...ame=n_oerstedii Link to comment
TheUnfocusedOne Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Any idea what the smallest tank would be you could keep a mantis in ? IME a normal sized 5g is the smallest I'd go. It's all about footprint. I had a nice 5g long tank that was perfect for a mantis. I also had one in a picotope for a while, but I definitely thought it was too small. Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Wow, that is a great vid! I have seen a few vids on these guys. Have checked out Reef Central? I think they have a whole section on them. i have... very good stuff youre right it probably was a ghost ghost fo sure! Hey Ez, How are you working in the tank with him in there now? Like, how are you putting in your coral frags? Has he come up to get you yet? He just hides and pokes his head out... seems like he would only attack if i put my hands right in front of his den. but i will always watch him when i put my hands in... plus in a ecopico if you stick your arm in you can overflow the tank pretty easily, so i use metal tongs to grab some stuff Great tank...fascinating thread...taggin along for the ride! Thanks Chip! Link to comment
ccapasso Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Thanks for the info . You are really making me want to get one of these guys lol. I'm sure he would work in my custom deep blue. However, part of me thinks maybe an acrylic tank would be better for them? Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 IME a normal sized 5g is the smallest I'd go. It's all about footprint. I had a nice 5g long tank that was perfect for a mantis. I also had one in a picotope for a while, but I definitely thought it was too small. Agreed! i am gonna be watching Thor and if i feel he is cramped (ecopicos don't have the best footprint) i will set up a bigger tank for him. I think i am in love with these creatures. They are truly amazing and really fun to watch! I already want to set up a planted O scyllarus tank in the future. I have a 40 breeder that in the garage atm and its tempting me to do it Thanks for the info . You are really making me want to get one of these guys lol. I'm sure he would work in my custom deep blue. However, part of me thinks maybe an acrylic tank would be better for them? Here are some of the best sites i have found to read up on them http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/cr....html#directory http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/cr...tomatopoda.html http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/ couple more that i found and will post when i find them again...forgot to bookmark Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 What are you doing to keep your tank clean? Obviously, with a Mantis, the clean-up crew wouldn't last very long. Any extra steps you're taking? Link to comment
metrokat Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Confused Miss Kat? no, starry eyed. You also take awesome pictures. Link to comment
19jeffro83 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Thanks it's w an iPhone 4 lol Link to comment
Ezsharkman Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 What are you doing to keep your tank clean? Obviously, with a Mantis, the clean-up crew wouldn't last very long. Any extra steps you're taking? I think i will just add clean up members as he takes them out. I haven't had very much algae so far... but i will adjust the CUC # accordingly. I think some larger snails might be to much for Thor to kill. But I will keep you posted as i learn what i can and cant add to the tank Link to comment
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