Mantis shrimp housing

nature_niko

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Hi, I have an empty 75 gallon aquarium and I was wondering if I could put a mantis shrimp in. If the answer is yes, can I put in multiple shrimp or only one? Also, do I have to feed live food to them?
 

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More than enough space. I kept a peacock mantis, one of the larger species, in a 28g biocube for many years

I suspect they do not get along with each other regardless of space but we can tag @Stomatopods17 for input

I fed a mix of frozen krill, clam chunks, and live snails / hermits. I kept a damsel in the tank and they coexisted for months and then one day the mantis randomly ate him.

I am not sure if they would be ok in a non-live food diet, as I always mixed things up. They will eat non live food, I just don’t know if that’s sustainable or not for them
 
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nature_niko

nature_niko

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Thank you for that info! Is there anything else I can put in because it’s a large tank?
 

Stomatopods17

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Mantis Shrimp are solitary and will kill each other.

They will most likely eventually kill all other live stock but there's a small chance fast fish (damsels) can survive long enough to outlive the mantis. Your tankmate options are what you won't be sad to see killed or financially regret later.

You can tong feed them frozen foods such as shrimp, clam, etc.
 
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nature_niko

nature_niko

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Mantis Shrimp are solitary and will kill each other.

They will most likely eventually kill all other live stock but there's a small chance fast fish (damsels) can survive long enough to outlive the mantis. Your tankmate options are what you won't be sad to see killed or financially regret later.

You can tong feed them frozen foods such as shrimp, clam, etc.
Thank you!
 
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nature_niko

nature_niko

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Is there different types of mantis shrimp that can be kept? Sorry, I don’t know much about them.
 

Stomatopods17

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Is there different types of mantis shrimp that can be kept? Sorry, I don’t know much about them.

Realistically the only ones you can regularly get;

O. scyllarus - True Peacock

G. Smithii - Purple Spot

G. Chiragra - commonly misslabeled as O. scyllarus

G. Ternatensis - commonly misslabeled as O. scyllarus, please don't seek this one out.

G. Glaborus

G. Graphurus - common in australia

L. Maculata, P. Ciliata, Squilla - all spearers that show up occasionally.

G. viridis - sometimes shows up as 'lime green' mantis.

All of Neogonodactylus - common Florida hitchhikers. N. Wennerae being the most common and enjoyed.
 

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For that size tank I reccomend a peacock or a larger spearer.

The peacock would be my top choice. They are large, around 8 inches, colorful, excellent swimmers, love to explore, build caves, and are incredibly smart.

You could keep some cheap fish like damsels in just to have more movement, and he may go for them once in a while but at least they are cheap to replace
 

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